Firefighters will be at a car wreckers yard in South Auckland into this evening, but have the blaze under control.
Photo: RNZ / Alex Perrottet
Counties Manukau Fire area commander Geoff Purcell said about 80 firefighters have been involved in the job on Jellicoe Road, which sent black plumes of burning rubber dozens of metres into the air.
He says fighting the blaze has been made more difficult because there are LPG tanks and welding gas in the car yard.
Firefighters have not been able to get too close or physically in the building yet in case the tanks explode.
They have been on cherry pickers and dousing it from a distance.
Mr Purcell said that meant it took longer to extinguish. He expected the fire to be extinguished by mid afternoon, but firefighters would stick around for a few more hours.
Mr Purcell said there were small explosions - pops and bangs - from various forms of fuel, plastics and car parts.
The fire has not spread to other buildings, he said, and no one has been injured.
About 100 people are at cordons around the fire, after buildings including a childcare centre, business and homes were evacuated.
The site backs on to the train line, and line inspectors have visited the site to check on damage.
Smoke billowing from the massive blaze can be seen from as far away as Drury.
Photo: RNZ / Alex Perrottet
A nearby business owner, Greg Du-Preez, said he heard several explosions and emergency services asked him to evacuate one of his workshops. He sent his staff home this morning.
"Currently it's light grey to white smoke, to me it seems like everything's under control due to the fire brigade being so responsive."
One resident on Jutland Road, Fetalai Junior Li'o, said earlier in the day he heard a loud bang and thought he was being burgled.
He said he has lived in the area and knew it was the car wrecker site, and was worried there would be more explosions.
People have been advised to stay away from the area, near the corner of Beatty Ave.
Fire and Emergency was called to the blaze at 11.35am.