Auckland Convention Centre fire: Civil Defence says toxic smoke alert worked, despite many not receiving message

Wednesday, 23 October 2019

Dramatic footage from multiple vantage points of the Auckland fire's unrelenting burn.

Some Aucklanders living near a massive blaze at the SkyCity Convention Centre never received a toxic smoke alert, despite the Civil Defence ministry saying the system worked 'as expected'.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management told Stuff it was looking into reports people living in the vicinity of the blaze did not receive the mobile alerts.

It is not the first time issues with the ministry's alerts have been raised – in March a tsunami warning that was meant to be an internal training exercise was accidentally sent to national media and posted on social media.

People wearing smoke masks in Auckland CBD.

Tuesday's message alerted Aucklanders living near the fire site to close their windows, stay away from the smoke and turn off air conditioning units.

* Why is the smoke thick, black and toxic?

* Civil Defence warning system error alerts NZ to earthquake that didn't happen

* Civil Defence 'confident' in emergency mobile alert system safeguards**

It also provided a health line for people to contact if they were feeling unwell.

But some Aucklanders living in the vicinity of the fire say they never received the warning.

Black smoke fills the air as the huge fire at SkyCity's Convention Centre continues to rage.

FYI I'm in the CBD, have received previous test alerts on my Samsung S7 Edge mobile (compatible, up to date and settings correct) but not today.

— Jamie Walker (@jamiewalkernz) October 22, 2019

SkyCity boss Graeme Sinclair and Fletcher Building chief executive Ross Taylor address media

Despite the issues, a spokeswoman said the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management had looked into the reported problems and concluded the mobile alert system 'worked as expected'.

'The alert was sent to a fixed geographical area around the Auckland CBD,' she added.

'One 3G cell in the fixed geographical area the Emergency Mobile Alert was sent to did not work.

'However, due to the coverage of the 4G network everyone in this area this area with Emergency Mobile Alert capable phones would have still received the alert.'

Half of New Zealand's cellphones should be able to receive the alerts, the ministry estimated.

Firefghters continue to douse the roof of the SkyCity Convention Centre.

'However, we expect this number to rise over time. In the last nationwide test 60 per cent of people received the alerts,' the spokeswoman added.

The thick, black smoke billowing from the SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre fire was deemed toxic by emergency services, with people warned to avoid the area if possible.

The colour of the smoke was dependent on the fuel that was burning and the heat of the blaze. The hotter the fire was, the darker the smoke it produced, as the fuel was being converted into elemental carbon, forming light-absorbing particles, according to Slate.

This fire, located on the roof of the under-construction building, was being fuelled by straw-like material sandwiched between the waterproof roof and plywood ceiling, according to FENZ area commander Geoff Purcell.

The colour of the smoke generally provided firefighters with an idea of what kind of blaze they were battling. Black smoke, produced by the burning of man-made materials, could be very volatile, RedZone explained.

In comparison, lighter, white smoke was formed by less-pure forms of carbon and was influenced by the water in the air, Slate explained. For example, grass fires would usually emit white smoke.

Black smoke was still visible from the scene on Wednesday morning, as firefighters continued to battle the blaze. People were still being warned to stay away from the Auckland SkyCity Convention Centre fire site and out of the smoke.

The smoke has affected Aucklanders living in the city near the blaze, with several reportedly waking up feeling ill inside smokey apartments.

'When I got home last night there was this really strong smell inside my place, like burning plastic, from the fire,' said Michelle Wilson, a 23-year-old shop assistant living on Albert St.

'I got used to it overnight, but when I woke up I felt quite ill.'

German backpacker Lisa Fischer, also staying on Albert St, said she felt 'a bit queasy' inside the apartment she was couch surfing at and planned to leave the city today.

The ministry spokeswoman said the mobile alert was an additional channel to help keep people safe. Alternative information was provided across multiple channels, including online and via media broadcasts.