The inferno raging through the SkyCity Convention Centre is still out of control, covering central Auckland in smoke.
Hobson St was blanketed in thick acrid fumes as tired firefighters coated in soot and wearing breathing apparatus continue to battle the raging fire. Fire trucks continued to blast water into the top of the unfinished building in an effort to contain the blaze.
Strong winds could hamper efforts to get the fire under control on Wednesday. Winds in Auckland were set to gradually increase to gusts of up to 90kmh from 8am. Metservice had a strong wind watch in place for the region, and NIWA said winds could shift direction at lunchtime, potentially changing the direction of the smoke plume. At 9am, flames and thick clouds of smoke continued to billow from the roof of the under-construction SkyCity convention centre.
ROOF SACRIFICED
Earlier, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) shift manager Craig Dally said fire crews were still working in “defensive mode”. “We have around 100 firefighters still on site and we are letting the fire burn through the roof,”
Dally said. He said the exact cause of the fire and how long it would continue to burn for were not yet known. Crews had been attacking the blaze from an aerial unit, known as a “snorkel”, which looks like a cherry picker.
FENZ area commander Geoff Purcell said there was no way to put the fire out from the roof due to the risk the roof would collapse under their weight. Instead, firefighters worked through the night trying to contain the blaze and stop it spreading
“We just can’t get it to put it out. It’s basically going to burn out,” Purcell said. The cause of the fire remained unclear, however, its impact had been felt across the city.
TVNZ EVACUATED
The neighbouring TVNZ building had been evacuated amid fears the fire may spread, while Auckland Council’s head office in Albert St was being assessed for smoke damage and health and safety for staff. The blaze broke out in a corner of the building’s roof about 1.10pm on Tuesday and quickly spread across much of the seventh floor.
BUSES DIVERTED, ROADS CLOSED
Commuters were told to avoid the central city if they could on Wednesday morning, with roads still closed and buses diverted. Auckland Transport said due to road closures in the main city buses would be detoured until further notice.
“Please expect significant delays and cancellations to services,” it said.
Road closures in the city included, Wellesley St (west from Victoria to Nelson and between Nelson and Hobson), Nelson St (between Cook and Victoria) and Hobson St (between Victoria & Wellesley). People were advised to avoid this area or expect delays and diversions.
Auckland Transport said detours were affecting the NX2 22A, 22N, 22R, 221X, 223X, 24B, 24R, 24W, 243X, 248X, 82, 802, 923, 75, 18, 151X, 171X, 172X, 195X, 209, 105, 106, 110, 125X, 129, 132, 132X, 133, 133X, 134 InnerLink and OuterLink bus services.
Time lapse of the #Auckland CBD fire between 2:00-6:30 pm Tuesday ?
The peak wind gust at our climate station on the Sky Tower has been 62.3 km/h from the west.
Wind gusts of 80-100 km/h are expected on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/cLYWaPCV5a
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) October 22, 2019
The SkyCity carpark was expected to open on Wednesday morning and customers whose cars were stuck in the carpark on Tuesday night wouldn’t be charged for the extra day.
STAY INSIDE
Meanwhile, in the CBD, residents have been told to stay inside and close their windows to avoid breathing the dense, black smoke which has been fanned across the city by high winds.
“We urge people to use their common sense and not put themselves in harm’s way by standing in smoke plumes or downwind of smoke,” Auckland Emergency Management Acting Director Sarah Sinclair said. Thick, choking smoke was enveloping Victoria St in the city centre about 6am.
People were advised to see their doctor if smoke has caused shortness of breath or worsening of asthma symptoms or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free, 24-hour health advice.
SKY CITY EVACUATED
The entire SkyCity precinct, including the casino, hotels and restaurants, was evacuated and guests could be seen making their way through the city, pulling suitcases. Guests should call 021 469 408 for more information from SkyCity.
Purcell described the fire as “unprecedented”. There hadn’t been many like it in his 36-year career as a firefighter, he said.
At the height of the fire on Tuesday evening, a total of 80 fire fighters were at the scene. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was expected to fly to Auckland from Wellington today to visit firefighters. A SkyCity spokesperson said the precinct would hopefully reopen by lunch time.
The chief executives of SkyCity Entertainment Group and Fletcher Building, Graeme Stephens and Ross Taylor, will provide an update on the situation at a media conference at 10am.
Source: Stuff
Featured Image: Thick black clouds of smoke waft across Auckland after a fire started at the SkyCity Convention Centre building site on Tuesday afternoon. Photo / Stuff
