Smoke alarm at Mount Albert Plant and Food Research facility prompts emergency services hazmat response, fears of chemical incident

Emergency services responded to an incident that was believed to involve chemicals in the Auckland suburb of Mt Albert this afternoon.

Police said they were assisting Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) with an incident on Mount Albert Rd, which was reported to Police around 12.45pm.

A photo from a Herald reporter at the scene showed the Fenz Hazmat command unit outside the Plant and Food Research facility.

Police were earlier assisting FENZ with an incident on Mount Albert Rd at Plant and Food Research today. Photo / Nicholas Jones

Fenz told the Herald crews were alerted through a fire alarm activation, and the incident was believed to involve chemicals.

Six pumps, three aerials and three specialist appliances were in attendance, said Fenz.

A Herald reporter said there were four fire trucks and the hazmat truck on site.

Six pumps, three aerials and three specialist appliances were in attendance, said Fenz. Photo / Jason Oxenham

A spokesperson for the Plant and Food Research facility said a smoke detector in a lab at their Mt Albert research centre was activated earlier today, triggering an evacuation.

“Fire and Emergency NZ attended the site and investigated the event as per their normal procedures”.

“It is not known what triggered the alarm, however, FENZ have confirmed [there was] no risk to people or property and the site had been returned to Plant and Food Research for entry,” they said.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson confirmed they had earlier dispatched an ambulance to the scene alongside one rapid response vehicle and one operations manager.

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.