KEY POINTS:
Fire safety officers are investigating the cause of one of the biggest fires in Queenstown in 15 years.
Firefighters from Queenstown, Arrowtown, and Frankton, many wearing breathing apparatus, rushed to the Night and Day convenience store on Rees St just after 4.30am today.
Initial concerns were that the fire would spread to adjacent premises in the building, but six fire crews managed to keep the blaze contained.
However, the Opal and Jade Centre next door received water damage to the ground floor and first floor, Queenstown chief fire officer Bob Robertson said.
Fire safety officers found the seat of the fire was high inside a wall at the rear of the Night and Day store but had yet to determine the cause, which was not thought to be suspicious, Mr Robertson said.
"We had problems getting at it," he said. "It was just so difficult to get at we were unable to find the fire initially. But once it broke out, we were able to get into it."
More than 40 firefighters battled the blaze at its height.
Mr Robertson said contractors using cranes and a demolition ball were making the site safe so fire safety officers could get into the gutted building to investigate the cause.
No one was hurt battling the blaze.
Mr Robertson said the fire was "probably the biggest one in 15 years" in the Cenral Otago resort.
- NZPA
