Firefighters pulling back from large Levin blaze

File photo / NZH

Firefighters are pulling back from a large blaze at a former boys home near Levin after fighting it for about 11 hours.

Emergency services were alerted about 3.30am to a fire in a large shed, part of the former Kohitere Boys Home on Cd Farm Road.

After hours at the site, the owner and the Fire Service agreed to pull back and simply monitor the fire until it goes out as there was no life, property or land in danger, Manawatu assistant area commander Roger Calder said.

"We have been fighting the fire since half past three this morning and because there is no local water supply we have been bringing in tanker after tanker of water.

"It simply isn't practical to keep throwing resources at it when there is no further damage that can be done. The building is made of concrete and steel and we can simply watch and wait for the fire to die out over the next few days," he said.

Mr Calder said he has sent the many local volunteer firefighters home to their families and back to their jobs.

"There is very little risk that sparks from the fire will ignite surrounding vegetation, particularly since rain is due to fall later today, however one fire appliance from Palmerston North will remain on standby to keep watch."

At the peak of the fire, 10 appliances from three volunteer and Palmerston North and Wanganui fire stations had been called in to help.

- NZPA