Auckland warehouse fire suspicious

Auckland firefighters took more than an hour to contain a suspicious blaze at commercial premises on Great North Road in Avondale tonight.

Emergency services were called to the fire at the 20mx30m one-storey building containing four factory units, just after 7pm.

Northern fire communications spokeswoman Dallas Ramsey said 11 engines and 38 firefighters attended and by 8.15pm had the fire under control.

The building was in an industrial area and no homes were at risk from the flames.

There had been no reports of injuries, Ms Ramsey said.

The fire was well alight when firefighters arrived, Auckland City Assistant Area Commander Kerry Gregory said .

He told NZPA that the fire was being treated as suspicious because people had been seen entering the building earlier in the evening.

As far as firefighters could tell, there was nobody in the building, but Mr Gregory said it was too dangerous to enter the premises at present and fire crews were dampening down hot spots.

Fire safety officers and police were investigating.

- NZPA