Staff escape blaze at Hastings plant | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Four fire units were dispatched to fight an industrial blaze in Hastings last night.

Seven Hawk Packaging staff were working inside the Tomoana Rd manufacturing plant when a fire broke out shortly before 7pm. They were unable to extinguish the fire and evacuated the building. It was believed to have started in the drier that operated at 220C, and then sparked a secondary fire.

Fire crews from Napier and Hastings fought the main fire from the ground and an opening in the roof.

Hastings senior station officer Glenn Drew said the fire was caused by a mechanical fault in the machinery, which operated at high temperatures and was lubricated with oil.

"When we arrived, there were flames and smoke down the road," he said. "We could see it from the station a few kilometres away.

"We got to the heart of it within 10 minutes ... It was essential that it was a quick cut off and the guys did a great job," he said.

Hawk Packaging managing director Tim Combs was grateful the fire did not have a more serious outcome. "To have everyone out safe and sound, that's the main thing. The machinery can be replaced."

A clean-up would begin today, and assessors would establish the damage and cause of the fire.

Mr Combs expected the plant, that made moulded fruit trays, to be fully operational this week.