Inner city apartment building evacuated after fire

An inner city Auckland apartment block was evacuated this morning after a candle started a fire in a conch in a 10th floor flat.

Firefighters reached the Imperial Gardens Apartments within four minutes of the alarm being raised but said by then two sprinkler systems had been activated and the fire was under control.

Fire Service shift manager Tony McDonald said the building was evacuated but those living in apartments not affected by the fire and water were allowed to return home after about an hour.

He said there was probably more water than fire damage.

- NZPA