KEY POINTS:
Firefighters are battling to save the Wanganui wharf after heat from a suspicious blaze at a nearby factory caused it to catch fire.
The fire service went to the fire at the paper recycling factory at 12.14am this morning after several calls.
The Full Circle factory, in an industrial area on the waterfront, consisted of a portable office and warehouse with several bales of paper and cardboard waiting to be transported.
Wanganui Senior Station Officer Craig Gardiner said seven appliances attended the fire which was lit from outside and was being treated as suspicious.
He said the factory compound was "chock-a-block" with a truck, forklifts, machinery, plastic and paper.
"On our arrival the bales were alight and threatening the portable office and 50x20m warehouse. Ten minutes later and we were dealing with the whole building on fire. It was a good save."
Over 30 firefighters were at the scene.
The last appliance left the scene at 6.30am but was called back just before 8am when the wharf was reported to have caught fire.
Mr Gardiner said the direct heat from the factory fire had gone underneath the wharf and caused it to catch alight.
"Now we've got to go down there and save the wharf before the whole thing falls into the sea."
- NZPA
