Winds fan massive Northland blaze

The fire was raging before emergency services arrived yesterday afternoon. Photo / Mike Hull

A huge shed near Kaiwaka in Northland is little more than dust after wind-fanned flames that at times leapt 40m into the air destroyed the structure.

Firefighters were called in from around lower Northland to help tackle the blaze that erupted about 3.50pm yesterday at the storage and processing shed at Kauri Park Nurseries beside State Highway One, just north of Kaiwaka.

Blustery winds spread the fire quickly through the shed, which had measured 100m long and 30m wide.

Fire crews from Kaiwaka, Whangarei, Mahurangi, Maungaturoto and two teams of rural firefighters were due at the scene late last night as the winds hampered progress. Concern over chemicals stored in the shed led to the Whangarei-based hazardous chemicals unit being called in.

Rugby enthusiast Jamie Troughton was travelling from Tauranga to Whangarei to watch the Bay of Plenty team take on the Taniwha when he spotted smoke in the sky.

"There was a plume of smoke about three kilometres long. The strength of the wind was amazing. It was perfect conditions for a fire," Mr Troughton said.

"Flames were leaping 30 to 40 metres in the air. People were stopping and just watching and the workers there were out on the road in tears."

Fire investigator Craig Bain said the crews had launched an external attack as it had not been safe to try and get beneath the collapsed iron roof.

"It's a bloody mess," he said.

He would be at the scene today to determine what had caused the blaze.

The fire was the topic of conversation at the nearby Three Furlongs Hotel.

Atlas Quarry worker and neighbour Graham Mills said when he had driven past the building it was a pile of dust and smoke.

"It's a very sad sight. It's beyond repair, that's for sure."

He said all that was left was a lean-to on the side of the main building that had been used to load trucks.

It was devastating for the community as several locals were employed at the site, he said.