Onehunga factory to be rebuilt after blaze

RHIANNON HORRELL

The owner of a textiles factory partially destroyed by an accidental blaze says no jobs will be lost in the wake of the disaster.

The Onehunga-based family business, Textile Products, suffered a major blow when one of its Miami Parade buildings was razed to the ground by fire on January 16.

But operations are moving onwards and upwards with a view to return to normality in six months.

Plumes of black smoke could be seen filling the sky from many areas of Auckland.

Up to 11 fire trucks and 50 firefighters attended at the peak of the inferno.

There were concerns flames could spread to the ChemWaste facility next door.

The company is spread out in different sections on both sides of Miami Parade.

One building was destroyed and two others remain on the side of the road that was hit by fire.

Managing director Bob Willis was on holiday at Mangawhai Heads when he received word of what had happened.

"I had to make a terrible phone call," manufacturing manager Mark Borgfeldt says.

Mr Willis says the building is "pretty shot".

"When I heard there was a fire I expected the worst. No one got hurt – that's the main thing."

Mr Willis says staff job security is an important issue.

He had a phone call from the workers' union shortly after the fire.

"We've told them they're not going to lose their jobs. We're keeping everyone gainfully employed."

Six staff who usually run the line which was destroyed have been moved to work on other things.

The fire started when a piece of hot metal inadvertently ended up in the blend bin on the production line.

It smouldered for a time and then caught alight.

Mr Borgfeldt says three workers weren't able to control the quickly spreading fire with extinguishers.

"The fire was gaining on us."

He says staff spent three to four minutes fighting it before evacuating.

Fire crews doused the area with water and "it was over and done with quickly".

Mr Willis says because dry fibre material was burning "it went up with fanfare but then disappeared".

"The fire brigade did a fantastic job."

The staff lunch room and toilets were destroyed along with the production line.

Mr Willis says the insurance company has completed its investigation and it's clear the fire was an accident.

Damage costs are not yet known but are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. The insurance will cover reinstatement of the machinery lost and the building.

"We just want to get up and running again and make sure none of our customers are let down."

In terms of finding new machinery to replace what has been lost, Mr Willis says the fact there has been a global recession helps because it means a few plants which carry out the same work overseas are for sale.

Mr Willis says the community and business support has been great.

- © Fairfax NZ News