A large fire which caused “significant damage” to a McDonald’s restaurant in east Auckland this afternoon is now being treated as suspicious.
Emergency services were notified of the fire at around 3pm on Monday.
Fire and Emergency NZ said the building was “totally involved” in flames by the time crews arrived.
Six fire trucks from Howick, Ellerslie, Mt Wellington, Otara, and Papatoetoe were in attendance at the blaze. One was a ladder truck, a FENZ spokesperson said.
“Everyone was out at the time and there are no reports of injuries.”
FENZ said the fire was being treated as suspicious.
“A fire investigator is attending to determine cause and origin.”
Pakuranga Rd was closed for nearly two hours in both directions with road users advised to avoid the area.
“Investigations into the cause of the fire at the McDonalds are underway,” police said.
A staff member at nearby KFC Pakuranga, across the road from the McDonald’s, told 1News he heard a couple of explosions coming from the restaurant as the blaze began.
He said he heard “one or two” explosions, followed by thick, black smoke billowing into the air.
The restaurant was adjacent to a Z petrol station and 250 metres along the same road from Pakuranga College.
A staff member at the service station said they had closed their fuel pumps and there was “huge fire and huge smoke” coming from the fire.
Police were notified of the blaze on Pakuranga Rd at around 3pm on Monday. (Source: Supplied)
The Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre Courts were also closed this evening due to the blaze.
Auckland Transport said several bus routes, the 72C, 72M, 72X, 734, 420, and 421 were detoured due to the blaze.
Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown thanked emergency services who had been responding to the incident.
“Please follow the advice of emergency services, avoid the area, and stay safe.”
A McDonald’s spokesperson said the McDonald’s restaurant in Pakuranga had “suffered significant damage” in the fire.
“Procedures were followed to raise the alarm and safely evacuate staff and customers. McDonald’s is assisting emergency services as they begin the investigation into the cause of the fire.”
