The Kerikeri tyre shop was still burning, but contained, by noon. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
A major fire in a Kerikeri tyre shop has been extinguished but concerns remain about the health risk from asbestos and burning tyres.
The blaze broke out about 10.40am on Wednesday near the junction of State Highway 10 and Kerikeri Road, sending a huge plume of black smoke into the sky.
Fire and Emergency NZ assistant commander for Northland Wayne Martin said the 20 x 30 metre commercial building was burning fiercely when the first brigades arrived.
Kerikeri firefighters could see the huge column of smoke from their station several kilometres away in the town centre.
A number of nearby buildings, a vegetable shop in particular, were in danger, so the firefighters' first priority was protecting those.
Martin said workers were in the tyre shop at the time but managed to get out safely.
Firefighters from across Northland battle to contain the tyre shop blaze. Photo: RNZ / Peter De Graaf
It was fortunate the wind was blowing smoke away from the road.
Traffic was slow but the highway did not have to be closed.
The fire was contained by noon and largely extinguished by 1pm.
Martin said there were concerns about health risks from burning tyres and asbestos in the old building.
He advised people in the vicinity of the fire to keep windows and doors shut, and ventilation systems in houses and cars turned off.
Anyone who had respiratory problems as a result of the smoke should ring Healthline for free advice on 0800 611 116, or see a doctor for breathing difficulties or chest pain.
A firefighter is washed down in a decontamination shower. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Tyre Save Direct owner Robbie Edge said he did not know the building was on fire at first.
Edge and employee Kaleb Andrew were working at the front of the shop when the owner of a nearby gelato shop alerted them to smoke coming out of the building.
"We didn't even know. She came over and said, 'Hey, your building's smoking'. It was scary how fast it happened. It was less than a couple of minutes."
Four customers' cars were on stands in the shop at the time.
The duo managed to get them down and out of the building just in time.
"I've never worked so fast in my life," Andrew said.
Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Edge also managed to save - only just - his late father's ute, which he was restoring in a shed at the back of the building.
He had been in the building for coming up to 10 years and would now have to find a new premises.
Edge hoped his business insurance would cover the costs of starting again.
He was philosophical despite the huge setback.
"S*** happens. But no-one lost their lives and we managed to get our customers' vehicles out."
Martin said firefighters responded from all over Northland.
They included crews from the Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Ōkaihau, Cavalli, Hikurangi and Whangārei.
Martin said it was too early to know what had caused the fire - the biggest in a commercial building in Kerikeri since a massive blaze on Kapiro Road in 2020.
A fire investigator was at the scene examining the wreckage and talking to tyre shop staff.
A decontamination shower was set up to wash down firefighters.
Nearby display homes, a private residence and a gelato shop were undamaged.
FENZ treated the volunteer firefighters to ice creams.