Residents near Port Whangārei were told to keep their windows closed last night as crews battled a fire at a building storing lithium batteries and solar panels.
Crews were called to the two-storey commercial building on Kioreroa Road at around 7.25pm yesterday.
On arrival, crews found the building used for the storage and installation of solar panels and lithium batteries on fire.
A total of 11 crews were called to the blaze, including a ladder truck from Auckland.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said the incident was in an industrial area, and there were no properties in the immediate vicinity.
“However, an EMA was sent to nearby properties advising to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke drift,” the spokesperson said.
The EMA was lifted just before 1.30am.
This morning, crews remained at the scene, dampening hotspots.
“Further relief crews from Auckland will arrive later this morning to assist with dampening down,” the FENZ spokesperson said.
