Homes evacuated in fire havoc

Lisa Rapley posted this Twitpic of the fire. Photo / supplied

Hastings residents are reporting "havoc'' at the scene of Hawk Packaging last night, as heat melted tyres and shattered the windscreens of fire-trucks.

Fire crews evacuated 11 properties on Tomoana Road, and Hastings police prepared residents on Williams Street, and the cul-de-sacs off Caroline Road adjacent to the railway lines to leave.

One Tomoana Road resident, who lived opposite the packaging factory, said her family was ready to go as a tree outside her house burned, and a fire engine's windscreen shattered from the heat in her driveway.

"It was just huge,'' she said. "Hot, loud and scary - the heat was just phenomenal.''

One man said a resident's car had to be driven away as the tyres started to smoulder in the heat.

"It was unreal,'' he said. "Fire was just coming towards you, it was havoc. It was all on.''

A fireman was overheard to say: "We darn near lost the whole block.''

One Warwick Road resident was woken about 10.30pm by the voices of people passing, heading towards the scene. "Half of Hastings was there,'' Linda Hall said.

"People were just pouring down the street and there were cars everywhere.

"In fact, one driver was so anxious to see what was going on, that once they had put the cordon in place he drove off Frederick Street down the railway lines towards the flames.''

She said people were "frantically'' emptying the offices of Hawk Packaging, running out with computers and files while flames were rising up behind them.

"The flames were just everywhere you looked. The fire seemed to be getting bigger and bigger and flames were leaping into the air, smoke was pouring out everywhere.''

About 11pm much of the crowd dispersed due to the threat of ammonia in the air.

Foreman of neighbouring business DSK Engineering Dave Couchman said he was not allowed into the cordon last night, but gas bottles and computers were removed from the premises.

"I couldn't get in through the police cordon but I could see the flames - they were higher than the tallest, highest fire truck's ladder.''

This morning, fire hoses ran through the workshop.

"The shell of Hawk Packaging's workshop is leaning on our building, well there is not very much left of it,'' he said.

Mr Couchman believed the polystyrene panels that lined DSK's buildings would have to be replaced, after melting in the heat.

"We had to get a new wall last time and it was supposed to be fire-proof, but you can push in the places that are hollow again.''

This morning, ash fallout was evident all over Hastings - in suburbs including Akina, Parkvale, Mayfair, and Longlands.

Kernola Wairama said it was "snowing ash'' in Queen Street, and Rebecca Tough said she could hear it falling on her Caroline Road roof all night.

There were also reports the glow of the blaze was visible from Waimarama.