Old Auckland warehouse destroyed by fire

8.05 am

A fire last night destroyed a south Auckland warehouse with links to American troops who served in World War 2.

The warehouse, in Pukekohe, was thought to have been built by the American military to dehydrate vegetables for American troops.

By the time volunteer firefighters arrived at the 12,000sq/m warehouse about 11 pm, the building was burning fiercely.

Manukau chief fire officer Larry Cocker said the old building was used to store inflammable materials. The 70 firefighters concentrated on preventing the fire spreading to nearby businesses, including The Warehouse shop, a car painter and panel beater. The building was about 80 per cent destroyed.

Mr Cocker said people were seen leaving the warehouse about the time of the fire and police and fire safety officers made an initial inspection before the building was cordoned off and guarded overnight.

- NZPA