Hastings inferno: Ash 'not likely' toxic | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Ash from the inferno at Hawk Packaging in Hastings last night has fallen throughout Hastings but despite calls from concerned residents the Fire Service says it is unlikely to be toxic.

Last night's massive fire at Hawk Packaging in Hastings required fire appliances from as far afield as Palmerston North.

 

 

The fire broke out about 8.03pm last night, sending smoke billowing into the sky and flames leaping "at least" 20 metres into the air.

 

An area 100m x 50m contained pallets stacked with paper and cardboard for the upcoming apple harvest, due to start next month.

 

Area Commander Chris Nicoll said the fire was a struggle to contain but this morning was almost defeated.

 

"You don't get any bigger," he said. "We are still having trouble extinguishing the flames amongst the pallets and bins of cardboard and paper."

 

He said all fire crews in the Hawke's Bay area as far as Woodville were called to the blaze, which threatened four other properties.

 

A Bronto aerial appliance was sent from Palmerston North to support the Napier Bronto.

 

Volunteer firemen covered Napier and Hastings while the blaze was being fought.

 

Other fire calls came in at this time, including a house fire in the coastal settlement of Waimarama where a house was destroyed.

 

Hawke Packaging staff assisted firefighters in removing further combustible material from the area.

 

With the size of the fire overwhelming the available water supply to fight it, the decision was made to let the fire burn and protect the surrounding properties.

 

The intense heat activated the internal sprinkler system of a nearby factory.

 

Hastings police sergeant Bryan Smith said an evacuation plan was in place for nearby residents but was not needed.

 

 

Mr Nicoll said the packaging material fuelling the blaze was primarily Friday trays, the moulded internal layer inside an apple carton, and the paper that comprised the trays.

 

He said the last big was at the same place.

 

In October, 50 firefighters were called to the Tomoana Rd site in the suburb of Mahora when the Hawk Packaging paper store ignited.

 

All bales of paper that had been extinguished had to be opened in case there were live embers inside.

 

Fire crews today face a similar job before it can be declared that the the fire is out.

 

St John district operations manager, Steven Smith, said there were no injuries but one fireman was sent to Hawke's Bay hospital as a precautionary measure suffering heat exhaustion.

 

 

Mr Nicoll said fire investigators were at the scene last night but were sent home. "It was just too dangerous," he said.

 

The investigation would continue today.