Takanini fire: 'Explosions' as blaze breaks out at Auckland freight moving company

Wednesday, 4 December 2019

Video captured from a nearby home on Shepherds Rd captures the scale of the blaze.

At least 30 'explosions' were heard as a blaze engulfed a moving company in Auckland's Takanini.

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About 22 fire trucks from across Auckland were fighting the fire, described as 'well-involved', at United Movers on Wednesday evening.

Ash was reportedly falling on vehicles in nearby Papakura.

A spokesman for Fire and Emergency New Zealand said multiple 111 calls had been received.

Smoke billows from the massive blaze at United Movers in south Auckland.

The fire was extinguished by 7pm, but firefighters would remain on scene for a few hours to dampen down hotspots.

Scott Electrical branch manager Dee Townsend earlier said she could see the devastating blaze from her workplace on Great South Rd.

She had heard at least 30 bangs since the blaze began to engulf United Movers.

'There's explosions going off.'

About 22 fire trucks battled the blaze at its peak.

The fire was producing noxious smelling smoke and appeared to have jumped to another building, Townsend said.

'It's black and smells pretty toxic.

Black smoke can be seen billowing across Takanini.

'She looks like she's spread.'

Another witness described the terrifying scenes as towering flames erupted from the business.

Inlet Rd fire as seen from the Addison subdivision in Takanini this afternoon.

Wholesale Motors manager Karan Singh said the fire raged out of control from about 4.45pm for half an hour, but by 5.15pm it appeared to be under control.

'It's a massive fire.

'Big flames, huge. And loud blast sounds.'

Singh estimated the flames reached heights of 10-15m at the fire's peak.

At 5.30pm, the blaze had reached its fifth alarm – one below the level of the SkyCity fire in October, a firefighting source said.

Towering flames could be seen from United Movers.

Trucks from around Auckland had converged on the scene.

The SkyCity fire reached sixth alarm hours after it erupted and burned for more than two days.

Auckland Transport said Inlet Rd and Waka St were closed.

'Please follow directions of emergency services on-site and AVOID the area if possible, as congestion is heavy in the area.'

Auckland Emergency Management asked people to avoid the area if they could.

'Keep doors and windows closed and stay inside to avoid smoke.'

People in the vicinity received a Civil Defence alert about 6.30pm.

It advised residents to stay inside, close windows and doors and turn off their air conditioning.

The building had been reduced to a blackened shell.

Ben Ross, who lives about 800m from the fire, said there had been a strong taste and smell of smoke in the air.

'If you were outside long enough, you'd start getting minor throat irritation.'

Ross said from his home, he had heard 'some very faint explosions' earlier.

'We can still see haze coming off the site, but we definitely can't see the smoke anymore,' he said at 6.30pm.