Massive three-floor building fire in Tūākau, multiple crews battling flames

Emergency services remain at the scene of a massive three-floor building fire in Tūākau where at one point flames were shooting 30 metres into the air.

At its height, huge plumes of toxic black smoke could be seen drifting above the fire.

Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) said they received several calls just before 8.20pm about a building fire on Lapwood Rd.

By 10.40pm, 19 Fenz appliances were on the scene tackling the third-alarm fire.

It's understood the fire is at Tūākau Proteins - a meat processing and animal by-product rendering plant.

This morning a Fenz spokesperson said the blaze took nearly fours hours to bring under control.

Two crews were still at the scene and a fire investigator was due to head there later today.

Resident Dave Lesperance said he could see flames shooting 30 metres into the air.

A building is on fire in Tūākau . Photo / Dave Lesperance

"The whole thing was on fire.

"It's not windy so the smoke cloud went straight up."

A Fenz spokesman said there were no reports of any injuries or of anyone inside the building.

"On arrival, it was well involved."

Firefighters initially understood the building to be 50m x 40m in size, but said in a later update it was a three-floor 200m x 200m building.

"Now that we've got a better look at it, it's a much bigger building than they first thought it was.

"The fire is located in the building and completely involved."

He said crews would likely be on site all night.