An early-morning fire has completely destroyed a three-storey building that was under construction in Tōtara Vale on the North Shore.
Emergency services received multiple calls to the Kathleen St fire starting around 4.51am.
Fire and Emergency’s northern shift manager Josh Pennefather said on arrival crews found a 30x15m three-storey house “well ablaze”.
They called for more resources, with five fire trucks and two ladder trucks eventually attending.
The fire was contained to the house and was extinguished around 6am.
There were no reports of injuries, Pennefather said. Two fire investigators are at the scene of the blaze, which is being treated as suspicious.
A Fenz incident report site shows crews from Takapuna, Albany, Birkenhead, East Coast Bays, Auckland City and Te Atatū were called to the fire. Conditions this morning were windy.
A local man who reported the fire said he noticed a “tonne of smoke” while arriving at the gym on Target Rd, initially thinking it was fog.
“Once I opened my door I could smell smoke. Next thing I knew, there where huge flames towering into the air.
“We called the fire service and told them to send everything you’ve got.
“We could hear people yelling and screaming ‘fire’ while pops and bangs echoed through the valley.”
It was “quite scary” not knowing whether anyone was inside, the man said, adding he was glad to hear nobody was hurt.
A photographer at the scene said the fire was on a housing block that was under construction.
The middle unit had been completely destroyed by the fire and had collapsed, but the units either side appeared to be fine.
Just before 6am firefighters were still dampening down hotspots, he said.
Polyfest organisers are blaming the government for not fronting up more cash.