Asbestos has been discovered as firefighters battle a fire at a commercial property in the small Rangitikei township of Taihape.
Central Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager Carlos Dempsey said crews were called to Eagle St about 6.30am today.
On arrival, they found the building, behind the Taihape Railway Station, well-involved.
It quickly escalated to a third alarm which saw six fire crews from the around Rangitikei at the scene, as well as a Hazmat unit and other support vehicles.