KEY POINTS:
Nearly a week after a huge fire ripped through a disused freezing works in Auckland, firefighters are still there on hot-spot patrol.
The derelict Southdown freezing works near Penrose caught fire last Saturday in one of the most spectacular blazes seen in Auckland for years.
As flames leapt skywards, huge clouds of black smoke marked the site of the fire and could be seen from many parts of Auckland.
More than 100 firefighters worked in shifts to bring it under control but could not get to the seat of the fire because of the danger of falling debris, unstable and unsafe floors.
It was attacked from the outside but continued to burn fiercely for many hours.
The fire may have been arson but firefighters said because of the damage, the cause may never be found.
Today, six days after they were called, firefighters were still at the scene, making sure hot spots did not flare up again. They said it could be another day or two before the site was handed back to its owners.
Yesterday another hot spot was doused but firefighters said it did not appear to be in danger of flaring up again.
However, it was still too early for them to leave, they said.
- NZPA
