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PlaceMakers in Mangawhai is damaged, but still intact.
Six fire crews spent six hours battling a blaze at PlaceMakers in Mangawhai last Thursday night, March 11.
Mangawhai fire chief Robert Leslie said the fire was “well involved” when crews arrived at 9.15pm. Flames were leaping out the windows.
Robert said he could see the blaze lighting up the night sky on his way into the station.
Crews from Kaiwaka, Maungaturoto, Waipu and Paparoa assisted the Mangawhai brigade and had the fire contained by around 3am.
The building suffered heat damage and some structural damage at the source of the fire, but remains intact.
“It’s always good when you can get on top of a major fire like that,” Robert said. “PlaceMakers was a big supporter of the brigade when we were fundraising for the new station.”
Fortunately, the PlaceMakers was just 100 metres across the road from the fire station. Robert said neighbours were not evacuated, but crews were carefully monitoring a gas bottle exchange nearby.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire.
PlaceMakers northern manager John Gair said an engineering assessment was also underway.
He said the site was closed and customer orders were being fulfilled by the Whangarei branch. He thanked fire crews for their quick response.
