Massive fire breaks out at car yard near Auckland Airport

Fire crews are battling a massive blaze in Māngere at a Tourism Holding campervan workshop near Auckland Airport.

Eleven fire crews from across Auckland are battling the giant blaze at Richard Pearse Drive.

"People are asked to stay away from the area to allow emergency services to continue to work safely," Fire and Emergency NZ said just after 9am.

"There is a light haze of smoke around the area. It is considered low risk but people are asked to close their windows if they are in the path of the smoke or are experiencing any irritation."

Anyone experiencing breathing issues or requiring medical advice are advised to call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

UPDATE 10:25AM
Richard Pearse Dr remains closed, now only between Brigade Rd and Amelia Earhart Ave. Delays on surrounding roads have eased, however extra time should be allowed for journeys in the area today due to ongoing diversions. ^TPhttps://t.co/X4mP4gHLaR

— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) September 2, 2020

Up to 70 firefighters and 14 trucks from around Auckland were called out to the blaze. Thick, black smoke billowed across a stretch of the motorway near the fire.

Firefighters are tackling the large blaze using three aerial mounted hoses and numerous ground crews.

Other firefighters are keeping watch of a fleet of rental camper vans parked next to the burning building.

Delays from this Richard Pearse Dr road closure continue to impact southbound travel (towards @AKL_Airport) on #SH20A (George Bolt Mem Dr) and the Kirkbride Rd off-ramp. Avoid the area or expect delays. ^TPhttps://t.co/SITpYOHcfS

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) September 2, 2020

Firefighters had to cut a wire security fence and shift up to 2O rental vans parked at the front to reach the fire burning in the back of the building.

Incident controller Richard Twomey said firefighters winched and drove vans to safety that were blocking access to the blaze that broke out in the rear of the large workshop.

Thick smoke is billowing near Auckland Airport after 19 fire crews battle a blaze at a car yard. Photo / Lynley Ward

Twomey said no one was at the site when the blaze started earlier today. A building alarm had alerted firefighters to the blaze.

"We tried to fight it internally but the fire was well involved and had gone through the building," said Twomey.

Fire crews were called to reports of a building fire on Richard Pearse Drive just after 5am.

THL chief executive Grant Webster said today's blaze was another blow on the back of a terrible year.

"It's 2020!"

"This year is certainly teaching us resilience and you've just got to get on with it. "

He said the crew who worked at the site were devastated.

But plans were already underway to get back in business by tomorrow, though at a different site.

Webster said while the building had suffered significant damage he believed only a handful of campervans had been lost in the fire.

"They are quite emotional," said Webster soon after gathering with staff in the footpath.

It was "home away from home" to many who were now watching it burn to the ground.

He said the company was now getting in touch with customers advising them of the fire disruption.

"We've got to look after our people, look after our customers and focus on what's next," he said.

A section of Richard Pearse drive is closed and the incident is causing headache for commuters in the area.

A resident who lives off nearby Viscount St - about 1.8km away - told the Herald there is a strong smell of smoke in the area.

"That's what woke me up. I thought it was something burning in our house or the neighbours' because it was so strong," Veronica Toelupe Kata said.

"But it's like a street away. There's smoke everywhere outside our area and we can smell it through our whole house - so imagine being right next to it."

Toelupe Kata said there were sirens screaming everywhere outside and roads had already been blocked off.

The first firefighters to arrive quickly labelled the blaze to be a second alarm fire - before it quickly became a third alarm.

Just before 6am, it was bumped up to a fifth alarm blaze.

"We have many crews from Auckland fire station working at this fire," Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) said.

Members of the public are being asked to avoid the area if possible.

"Please keep clear of all fire-fighting operations," FENZ said.

The blaze, on Auckland's Richard Pearse drive, is at a vehicle storage yard. Photo / Lynley Ward

Just before 8.30am, northern fire communications shift manager Daniel Nicholson said the blaze was out and under control, but that more than a dozen fire trucks remained at the site still.

Firefighters were still dampening down hotspots and monitoring the site for any hotspots, he said.

Nicholson said the advice for people in the area was to turn off their air conditioning, especially as it was black smoke involved.

"As with any fire, the smoke is toxic," he said