A large warehouse fire at a plant nursery in Auckland’s northwest prompted a major response from firefighters last night, with sixteen trucks and multiple support vehicles called to the scene.
Fire and Emergency NZ said it was called to a “fully involved” fire at Van Lier Nurseries on Riverhead Rd in Kumeū at around 9.45pm on Saturday.
The affected structure measured approximately 25 by 50 metres and was engulfed in flames when crews arrived.
Firefighters worked for over two hours to contain the fire, successfully bringing it under control by 11.53pm.
“Sixteen trucks, as well as support vehicles, were on site at the height of the blaze,” a spokesperson said.
Three appliances were still on scene monitoring and dampening down hotspots this morning, they added.
The cause of the fire was not yet known and investigations were expected.
Fire and Emergency shift manager Paul Radden told RNZ neither of the heavy arterial trucks from Auckland stations was working. Wellington lent one to the city’s firefighters this week, but it broke down and another was called in from Hamilton.
Van Lier Nurseries was currently the largest rose grower in the North Island, with 1.5 hectares of glasshouses containing more than 30 varieties of rose.
