K Rd fire: Apartment fire closes Karangahape Rd in central Auckland, smoke pouring from building

• Emergency services are attending a fire in a central Auckland apartment on Karangahape Rd.
• Fire and Emergency New Zealand found smoke in a second-floor apartment.
• No injuries are reported; the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Emergency services are responding to a fire in a central Auckland apartment that started this afternoon.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand told the Herald it responded to reports of smoke coming from the top floor of an apartment building on Karangahape Rd shortly after 2pm.

Fire and Emergency Northern shift manager Ryan Geen said crews found smoke in the stairwell as well as inside a second-floor apartment.

Auckland Transport (AT) has diverted several inner city bus routes while emergency services respond to the incident.

AT told passengers to expect delays and possible cancellations on routes near the Karangahape overbridge.

Fire and Emergency NZ staff attend an incident at an old apartment building on Karangahape Rd, Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell

The road has since reopened and buses have resumed their normal routes.

An employee at a neighbouring store said he “saw the large cloud of smoke”.

Shawn Raza, who works in the area, told the Herald he saw people gathering outside the building, including schoolchildren.

“I saw them look up, so I looked up at the window also and I saw some smoke come out of it.

“I hoped there was nobody in there.”

Emergency services are investigating the cause of the fire. Photo / Dean Purcell

Hato Hone St John was notified of the Karangahape Rd incident but its assistance has not been required.

No injuries are reported at this stage.

Six fire engines, two ladder trucks and a specialist command unit are present at the scene of the blaze.

The fire was extinguished shortly after 2.40pm.

Emergency services are investigating the cause of the fire.

More to come.