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The owner of a west Auckland boat repair shed engulfed by fire today estimates it caused more than $1 million of damage.
More than 70 firefighters were needed to battle the blaze at Grant Pethybridge's boat repair shed in Rabone St, Henderson, about 11am.
Billowing smoke could be seen some distance away, and the fire was visible to shoppers at the nearby Henderson shopping mall, about 1km north of the blaze.
TV3 reported that about 200 people attending nearby church services were evacuated as the fire raged.
"Someone said there was about 1000 litres of diesel ready to go up, so we evacuated quickly," one churchgoer said.
"We just heard continuous explosions and the smoke was so intense it was blocking out the sun."
Mr Pethybridge said four boats were destroyed, including an old passenger ferry he was restoring, and his neighbouring house was also damaged. He estimated the damage at more than $1m.
"That was our dream, we'd done the motor up, we'd done everything like that (to the ferry) but she's gone now," he said.
Fire Service northern communications centre shift manager Megan Ruru said investigators had spent much of the afternoon trying to work out how the fire started. They were still at the scene early this evening.
Auckland City fire area manager Brian Edwards told NZPA there were a lot of chemicals in the yard.
Mr Edwards said 20 fire appliances and 70 firefighters were called to the scene. The fire was under control by 12.15pm.
- NZPA
