Building engulfed in flames
Explosions heard at Penrose site as firefighters attack blaze from above
Explosions were heard coming from a building engulfed in flames in the Auckland suburb of Penrose last night.
Emergency services rushed to the warehouse on Great South Rd shortly before 9pm.
Huge flames were seen shooting into the air and thick smoke billowed from the building. The road was cordoned off in both directions and vehicles were turned away as sirens rang out.
Fire service area commander Richard Twomey said 12 appliances and 50 firefighters were at the scene and crews had to attack the blaze from above using cranes as it was too dangerous to go inside.
A witness said the building was engulfed in flames, and there had also been several small explosions.
“Fire trucks were trying to put the fire out with their aerial appliances — ladders and all that.”
The building was understood to be unoccupied at the time the fire broke out.
Witness Vincent Vitolino was parked not far from the cordon when he saw the inferno.
“We saw police barricades and we just knew there was trouble.
“I can’t believe how big it was. I thought it was just a small contained house fire but something as huge as this is really big.”
Another witness said it appeared the fire had completely demolished the warehouse.
Raj, a manager at the GAS petrol station on Great South Rd opposite the site of the blaze, said it looked like the business affected was Humes Pipelines Systems.
Workers wearing Humes-labelled jackets appeared tearyeyed as they gathered outside the burning building last night.
Train services on Auckland’s Onehunga line were suspended.
Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said the train lines were behind the factory, though it wasn’t clear whether the flames had caused any damage. “It’s suspended until 10.30pm, which is the last train anyway.”
Hannan was unsure whether there would be any impact on train services this morning.
Twomey said fire crews would stay at the scene overnight as a safety precaution. It was unclear what caused the blaze.