A malfunctioning lithium-ion battery is to blame for a fire in a large workshop in Te Rapa on December 17
A Fire and Emergency NZ FENZ spokesman confirmed the cause of the fire and also the reason behind another fire, on December 13, which destroyed a boat storage shed, also in Te Rapa and sent a cloud of toxic smoke over the city.
![A FENZ spokesperson, said half of the 80m x 40m building was well involved in fire when the first crew arrived at the scene. Photo / Malisha Kumar](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/QQFUVR43SRBP5OSYGBMQIWVI54.jpg?auth=74b4a402ee0425c83cc16f37767b34e4ab487f5cb5aa1097ac2b8c9b428cea03&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
Fire crews were called to the December 17 fire at 10.50pm in a commercial building in Te Rapa, where half of the 80m by 40m building was well involved in fire when the first crew arrived at the scene.
A spokesperson said, at its peak, nine trucks were used to fight the blaze, including one ladder truck.