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A furniture warehouse would have been much less damaged in an early morning blaze yesterday had it been fitted with sprinklers and an alarm linked to the Fire Service, say firefighters.
The Importer, on Barry's Pt Rd, Takapuna, was gutted when flames ripped through the warehouse, despite the best attempts by firefighters from 11 appliances.
North Shore Fire District chief Denis O'Donoghue said the damage would have been minimal had sprinklers been fitted. It might have also been reduced if the fire alarm had been linked to the Fire Service.
Mr O'Donoghue said the warehouse had a monitored alarm but it was linked to a security company which did not appear to have passed the call on to the Fire Service.
The Fire Service communications centre was told of the fire by a member of the public who heard the alarm ringing in the building and could see metre-high flames about 5.30am.
Mr O'Donoghue said that because of the furniture in the warehouse, the fire burned quickly and by the time the person got off the phone to the 111 service, the flames were ceiling-high.
The fire chief said he was not criticising security-monitored alarms as there might be reasons the activation was not reported, such as the company sending someone out to check on the building before making the call in case it was a false alarm.
But he said it was important for building owners to familiarise themselves with how their system worked.
Building owner Anne McNeill said she was fully insured and was looking for temporary premises. She said the building's concrete walls prevented the flames spreading to adjoining buildings, but all her merchandise was destroyed. The cause of the blaze is being investigated.
- additional reporting NZPA
