KEY POINTS:
It is thought a fire at a south Auckland metal recycling plant this morning was caused by exploding aerosol cans.
The fire was in the scrap yard at Sims Pacific Metals, not Pacific Steel's plant, as first reported.
Chief Fire Officer Larry Cocker said it was thought aerosol cans in the scrap metal shredding plant exploded in the crusher with the burning material spreading from the conveyor belt to scrap heaps.
Mr Cocker said a couple of workers were treated for smoke inhalation, and the damage to the conveyor belts is to be analysed.
A Fire Service spokesman earlier said at least 50 firefighters were at the scene, battling the blaze which began in a shredder.
Fire was also found in a nearby switch room and other fires were burning outside the building.
It was not at first known if the fire had spread or if more than one fire was burning.
- NEWSTALK ZB, NZHERALD STAFF
