Shed destroyed by fire at Waerenga-a-hika

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Firefighters battled a large shed fire on a property at Waerenga-a-hika on Friday night and the cause is yet to be determined.

Fire and Emergency NZ sent six appliances to the scene after the fire broke out at around 6.30pm on a property opposite Kaiaponi Farms on Matawai Road (State Highway 2).

“The 35-by-35-metre packhouse/storage shed was fully involved in fire when the first crew arrived,” a senior firefighter said.

“The crew were able to protect a nearby dwelling until more appliances with more water arrived to tackle the shed fire.”

The shed was destroyed in the blaze.

“We had fire crews there for the whole night basically dampening down the remains of the building,” he said.

“How the fire got started has yet to be established.”

A full turnout of crews from the city were assisted by volunteer units, including Rural Fire units

The Herald understands the shed had been used to store plastic fruit bins.