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A fire broke out at southeast Auckland’s Botany Town Centre this morning (August 16). Eastern Times editor, Chris Harrowell reports from the scene.
Emergency services have responded in mass this morning to a fire at the Hoyts Cinema at Botany Town Centre.
Chapel Road was blocked to vehicle traffic as police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Hato Hone St John paramedics worked at the scene.
A firefighter was dousing the fire from a crane positioned above the roof of Hoyts Cinema.
Smoke had been seen pouring out of the building earlier this morning.
A fire alarm telling people to evacuate the building has been sounding for more than an hour this morning and is still going now, as of 11.05am.
Small groups of people were standing near the rooftop car park entrance to the cinema watching the emergency services personnel working.
The car park had been largely emptied of vehicles by about 10.30am.
A police vehicle blocked off the entrance to the car park, but vehicles were allowed to leave it.
Fire and Emergency NZ says: “Firefighters are working to extinguish a fire in an air-conditioning unit on the roof of a three-story building attached to the shopping mall at Botany Downs.
“The fire was reported at 9.28am. Smoke was reported in the movie theatre in the building.
“Multiple crews are at work inside and externally, with an aerial appliance also in use.
“Traffic in the area may be affected by road closures and diversions.”
A police spokesperson told the Times: “Police are assisting Fire and Emergency New Zealand at Botany Town Centre today.
“Police were called to assist around 10am.”
Firefighters from the Otahuhu, Otara, Papatoetoe, Howick, Ellerslie, Parnell, Onehunga, Manurewa, Mangere and Avondale stations are involved in the response to the blaze.
A spokesperson for Hato Hone St John says: “We have responded with one rapid response unit and one manager who are on standby. They have not been required so far.”
