More traffic delays expected as Auckland fire continues to burn

The fire at the New Zealand International Convention Centre on Hobson Street in central Auckland continues to burn on Wednesday afternoon.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand advises that fire crews are expected to continue working on the blaze throughout the night.

Auckland Emergency Management continues to monitor the situation and is supporting FENZ and other agencies.

All Auckland Council essential services are still running as normal, but staff were advised to work from home or from non-central locations on Wednesday, where possible.

Plan your travel home on Wednesday night

Road closures and bus diversions remain in place throughout central Auckland and motorists are advised to expect significant delays.

Auckland Transport advises people travelling home from central Auckland on Wednesday afternoon to avoid peak hour traffic, leave extra time and check the Auckland transport website, Facebook or Twitter for updates.

AT spokesperson John Nottage says, “If you are able to time your travel to avoid peak hour traffic, by leaving earlier or later than usual, we advise you to do so.

“Train services are not affected by traffic diversions, so if you have the option to home by train this would also be a good way to avoid delays.”

Advice from the Auckland Regional Public Health Service

People living or working near the convention centre should take precautionary measures to avoid breathing in the smoke. These include:

• Staying indoors and out of the smoke
• Avoiding the smoke plume
• Keeping windows closed
• Shutting down external ventilation if smoke is being drawn into your building
• Seeing your doctor if smoke has caused shortness of breath or worsening of asthma symptoms.
• Wiping down surfaces – especially food preparation and cooking surfaces – in areas affected by smoke or soot.

People who smoke, the elderly, children, and those with heart disease, asthma or other lung conditions are at greatest risk of harm from smoke inhalation and should avoid exposure.

If you experience any acute effects from the fire such as difficulties breathing, wheeze, cough or chest pain, you should seek assistance from your GP or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free, 24-hour health advice.

In healthy people, most symptoms disappear soon after exposure to smoke ends and cause no long-term health problems.

Advice for pet owners

If you live in central Auckland or surrounding areas and have pets please take the same precautionary measures you would take to prevent breathing in smoke.  

• Bring pets indoors and make sure they stay out of smoke
• Birds are particularly sensitive to smoke
• Keep windows closed
• Shut down external ventilation if smoke is being drawn into your building

Animals that have heart disease, asthma or other lung conditions, and dogs and cats that are brachycephalic (very short noses such as pugs) are at greatest risk of harm from smoke inhalation and should avoid exposures. 

Contact your local veterinarian if you have any concerns.

Water Quality

Fire and Emergency New Zealand are working hard to ensure that any run-off from water used to fight the fire is minimised, and Auckland Council and Watercare will be monitoring this as the incident continues.

Auckland Council Manager of Regulatory Compliance Steve Pearce says, “With any incident like this, there are there are concerns regarding the water run off carrying debris and contaminants into the harbour.

“The Resource Management Act has a provision during emergency situations such as this which does allow for run-off from fire-fighting to occur. It is a balance to ensure there is minimal impact on our waterways while also ensuring that emergency services can prioritise the response.

“The water used either evaporates while trying to extinguish the fire and then is also caught in the road cesspits. This is similar to any run-off from a heavy rainstorm.”