Residents warned to stay inside as flames engulf south Auckland car yard

Sunday, 6 June 2021

Huge fire engulfs Papakura car yard

Fire and Emergency issued a warning for south Auckland residents to stay inside and close their windows, after a car yard fire in Papakura filled the suburb with acrid choking smoke.

Mobile phones in the region received an emergency alert at 5.30pm advising people within 1km of Parker St, Papakura, to close their doors and windows to protect against the toxic smoke.

The warning lifted at 9pm Sunday after firefighters brought the blaze under control.

Do you know more? Email aucklandnewsroom@stuff.co.nz

Intermittent explosions could be heard throughout the south Auckland suburb as dozens of vehicles were engulfed in fire.

More than 20 appliances from across Auckland helped battle the huge blaze at its peak.

The blaze engulfed cars and at least one building on the site at Parker St in Papakura.

The fire has been raging since 3pm and as night fell about 5.30pm flames could still be seen towering above the business in Parker St.

A man working at the business, JCP Car Parts, confirmed the fire started in its yard. The cause of the blaze was not yet known, he said.

Several buildings and a large number of cars have been consumed by the fire.

Plumes of black smoke drifted out over south Auckland as the car yard burned.

Firefighters were still trying to bring the blaze under control when residents were sent an emergency alert urging them to stay indoors.

A man smokes a cigarette near the site of the car yard fire in Papakura, south Auckland.

In a statement shortly before 9pm, Fire and Emergency said the fire was now under control and crews were dampening down hot spots and extinguishing small flare-ups of fire.

Fire crews were still battling the fire at the Papakura car yard as night fell.

Cordons will remain in place around the fire overnight before fire investigators arrive at the scene on Monday, the statement said.

Several suburban blocks in Papakura west of the fire have lost power as heavy rain continue to fall. Street lights are out and traffic lights have stopped working at an intersection on Settlement Rd.

Intermittent explosions could be heard throughout the suburb as dozens of vehicles burned in the fire.

Police have closed a long stretch of Hunua Rd as firefighters continue to battle the blaze.

There was no word yet on a possible cause.