Large fire at THL Rentals in south Auckland leaves camper van firm 'inoperable'

Thursday, 3 September 2020

A large fire has “gutted” an office and workshop at a camper van storage site in south Auckland, sending toxic smoke billowing over the region.

Fire crews were called to THL Rentals on Richard Pearse Drive, in Māngere, around 5am on Thursday.

Have you seen the fire? Send your photos and newstips through to aucklandnewsroom@stuff.co.nz.

The 100 metre by 80m building was “well involved” in flames on arrival, shift manager Daniel Nicholson said. Staff from nearby buildings, including a gym, have been evacuated.

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Nicholson said 19 fire trucks were at the scene at 6.30am, and the fire was at the fifth alarm stage.

A Stuff photographer on site said the fire was under control by around 7.30am.

Grant Webster, chief executive of THL, which owns Maui, Britz and Mighty campervan companies, said no staff were at the site when the fire started and that the business would be “inoperable for some weeks”.

There was minimal damage to camper vans but “severe” damage to the building.

“It’s a severe fire that has clearly impacted the building. Some vehicles have been lost, but we don’t understand how many yet. Most importantly everybody’s safe. Nobody was on site, and we’ll work through it today.”

A statement from Webster on the NZX site said there appeared to be damage to about 10 motorhomes and “substantial damage” to the building that houses the office and workshop.

“Our insurance provider has been notified, and we are in communication with them regarding the situation.”

Residents in central Auckland could see smoke billowing towards the city centre around 7am.

A witness described the shocking speed and ferocity of the fire as vehicles went up in flames and gas bottles exploded.

It is understood firefighters had trouble accessing the yard and had to use a gas axe to cut through a fence.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Airport Tyreworx owner Barry Wood, whose business is across the road from the scene of the fire, saw the fire burning when he arrived to open up shortly after 5am.

“The whole building is gutted,” Wood said. “It’s buggered.”

The fire started inside a large workshop at the back of the yard, which usually contains several campers.

Wood, himself a volunteer firefighter, said the flames spread rapidly amid a strong southerly wind.

“We’ve has some big fires, but nothing like that.”

The acrid black smoke indicated the fire was engulfing the bodies of camper vans, he said.

LPG bottles, which are used to power cooking stoves on the campers, were exploding as the fire raged.

Wood said flames leapt six metres in the air at the height of the blaze.

He said skeleton staff were usually at the yard early in the morning at the time the fire erupted.

Eleven fire trucks remained at the site just before 9am, as firefighters were still working to control flare-ups, but the fire was largely extinguished.

Ladder trucks were used to fight the fire, and Wood counted about 70 firefighters still at the scene.

The smoke was still “quite bad” but the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. He said there were toxic fumes in the air because of fibreglass on the camper vans.

He said the vans that were inside the building would be “absolutely toast”.

A number of vans had been moved by staff – accompanied by firefighters – to make tackling the fire easier, Wood said.

He estimated firefighters would remain at the scene until at least midday.

They had done well to protect neighbouring businesses from being in danger of the flames, he said.

Meanwhile, in a car park beside the rental yard, a young family who were meant to begin a campervan journey to the South Island waited.

The father, who did not want to be identified, said they arrived in a taxi to find the yard engulfed in fire.

He was still waiting for word on whether he would be able to pick up a campervan on Thursday.

The original call came in as a fire alarm activation and the building was in flames when the first crews arrived.

A fire investigator was at the scene but wouldn’t be able to start working until the fire was completely extinguished.

Nicholson asked people to stay away from Richard Pearse Drive while firefighters worked to control the blaze.

Park ’N Fly manager Evan Pillai said he saw “thick, black smoke” as he headed into work from Onehunga around 6.20am.

Pillai said it was concerning as he knew the people who worked at THL Rentals.

Auckland Transport said the street, between Ascot Rd and Amelia Earhart Ave had been closed because of the fire.

Nearby Montgomery Rd has also been closed to assist with fire response, AT said.

“Avoid this area with significant delays due to diversions.”

The road closure was also impacting southbound traffic on State Highway 20A and the Kirkbride Rd off-ramp, the New Zealand Transport Agency said.

Auckland Emergency Management warned people to avoid breathing in the smoke, by staying indoors and closing windows and doors.

Fire and Emergency said a light haze of smoke remained in the area but it was considered low risk.

“Anyone experiencing breathing issues or needing medical advice as a result of this smoke should contact health line on 0800 611 116.”

Webster said there were about 200 vehicles at the site. THL also had about 60 staff working at the site who would be moved to other sites.

“We have multiple sites. It’s not going to be material in terms of the whole THL company, but obviously it’s devastating for us and customers.”