The Sky City convention centre was due to be opened later next year, but that looks unlikely now after a major fire started on the building site yesterday. There are still flames and smoke this morning, with the rood allowed to burn in the hopes of saving most of the building.
This morning:
Flames engulfed the top of the building just after 1pm this afternoon – starting on the seventh floor before spreading to the sixth. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Bitumen and insulation is on fire and there are also concerns about gas cylinders in the area.
Hundreds of people were also evacuated from the precinct, including the Sky Tower, because of the smoke earlier in the afternoon.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told Lately this evening that firefighters will abandon efforts on the roof of the Convention Centre but their strategy is to stop the blaze from spreading to the fifth level.
Fire and Emergency’s Thomas Harre said it’s been difficult for firefighters to get inside the building and to the top because the fire started in the roof cavity.
The orange glow of flames from the burning centre is clearly visible this evening, and thick black smoke continues to billow from the building.
Fire and Emergency said people may be able to see flames as the crews let some areas burn.
It said this was nothing to be concerned about and was a way to provide access for firefighters to the inside of the building.
Its spokesperson, Dave Woon, said it was “a very, very difficult fire to extinguish”.
RNZ this morning:
SkyCity fire still burning, PM to visit today
Firefighters worked into the night, abandoning the roof, and focusing their efforts instead on preventing further spread to the lower levels.
Dozens of fire units were on the scene, with additional help even arriving from the Hamilton Fire and Emergency branch.
Smoke continued to billow from the building into the CBD precinct yesterday, affecting workers and residents nearby. Those in the area have been warned to either avoid the blocks around SkyCity if possible or take precautions to avoid breathing in the fumes.
SkyCity evacuated its entire Auckland precinct, because of smoke from the fire, with people forced to leave the Sky Tower, casino, all SkyCity hotels and restaurants and corporate offices.
1 News – Live updates: Firefighters continue to battle SkyCity inferno; TVNZ building evacuated
6.37am: The current official health advisory is to stay well way from the fire and out of the trail of smoke, stay indoors and keep windows closed. Shut down external ventilation if smoke is being drawn into your building. See your doctor if smoke has caused shortness of breath or worsening of asthma symptoms.
6.35am: FENZ are reminding people to stay away from the Auckland CBD. 23 fire engines are responding to the fire, including one aerial appliance from Hamilton. An additional 20 units and 16 specialist support vehicles are attending also.
6.31am: Firefighters say an older structure would likely have collapsed under such conditions, but that the Convention Centre is still technically “structurally sound”.
Phil Goff is saying that he now wonders whether it could put back completion years. The convention centre was to be used for an APEC meeting in 2021, that looks at risk now.