A large fire broke out in a commercial building in central Christchurch, New Zealand, early this morning, prompting warnings for residents to stay inside.
Thick smoke spread over the area after the fire began in a warehouse on Sydenham’s Auto Inspection Services property, just south of Moorhouse Avenue.
By 6 a.m., 45 firefighters and 11 trucks were on-site, battling the blaze. Fire and Emergency New Zealand reported that the fire was not spreading but had not been fully put out yet. An emergency alert was sent at 7:10 a.m., warning nearby neighborhoods like Addington and Spreydon about the smoke and urging them to keep windows closed and stay indoors.
Part of the building’s wall was destroyed, and nearby roads, including Colombo, Cass, and Durham Streets, were closed due to the fire. Firefighters continue to work hard to bring the blaze under control.
