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A fire on the Kapiti Coast today destroyed a shed which housed living quarters along with machinery including two tractors.
Otaki acting chief fire officer Brent Bythell said the shed near Te Horo also contained agricultural chemicals which accelerated the blaze and sparked a large response from fire units as far away as Wellington.
Mr Bythell said luckily no one was near the shed at the time , but the blaze was a dangerous one for fire fighters.
"Chemicals were involved in the fire, which is always a bit of a worry for us - every time we moved the wind moved."
He said fire fighters had to be decontaminated after the fire was brought under control.
The shed and accommodation area was destroyed, along with two tractors and various other implements stored inside.
Ten or more fire engines turned up at the blaze, near Te Horo, and were accompanied by ambulances and local council and Labour Department officials.
The fire was being investigated but there were no obvious signs of what may have caused it.
Mr Bythell said it was the 221st call-out for the year at the Otaki station. "So that's it, we don't want any more for Christmas."
- NZPA
