WTF is going on in Onehunga right now? (5.30pm, 8 December)

**xwhatsit** · 8th December 2008, 16:40

WTF is happening? I'm looking out my window in Mangere Bridge and I see a massive, wide column of smoke towering up into the sky in Onehunga. Looks massive. Smells vaguely chemical -- occasionally you can hear snatches of sirens and noises and the smoke takes on a black edge and curls around.

Looks scary. Anybody closer?

**xwhatsit** · 8th December 2008, 16:43

Just got news it's from Onehunga Mitre 10 apparently. The whole store up in flames -- looks more impressive than that!

All that fertiliser and kerosene and chemicals lying around, it must've been good. Hope nobody's hurt. Seems to be petering out now, just a huge thick greasy cloud of smoke hanging over all of Onehunga.

**roy.nz** · 8th December 2008, 16:44

Thats way the fire trucks where roaring like f$%k in the oppisite direction. Better watch the news at 6 to find out why

**samgab** · 8th December 2008, 16:45

Affirm, it's the Grove Mitre 10 burnin' down to the ground...

**EJK** · 8th December 2008, 16:47

Huh? Did people come out better off at mitre 10?

**roy.nz** · 8th December 2008, 16:48

I bought my electric rattle gun from there good store friendly service. What a shame. But it is always fun watching a fire burn because its got a mind of its own and looks really good.

**xwhatsit** · 8th December 2008, 16:49

They've got a timber yard out the back.

I can't quite work out the smell, mebbe a million aerosol cans going up in flames. Hopefully put the taggers out of action for the wee while!

**klingon** · 8th December 2008, 16:49

*checks it out on google streetview* (to see what it used to look like before today!) That's quite close to a lot of other buildings isn't it? And they had/have a lot of timber & stuff outside? Or am I thinking of the ITM?

**EJK** · 8th December 2008, 16:50

Originally Posted by roy.nz

I bought my electric rattle gun from there good store friendly service. What a shame. But it is always fun watching a fire burn because its got a mind of its own and looks really good.

BIG is good!

**roy.nz** · 8th December 2008, 16:52

Originally Posted by EJK

BIG is good!

Not when its raised to the ground in flames of of pain.

**Winter** · 8th December 2008, 16:55

New Zealand Police Alert 5:05pm 8 Dec 2008 Auckland City

Location of incident: onehunga

Incident type: fire

Road closure
Fire and Police are in attendance at a large fire in Beachcroft Road Onehunga which has necessitated the closure of a number of streets in the vicinity.
Police have set up road blocks at the intersection of Neilson and Wharangi, Princess and Hill, St George and Church and Beachcroft and Church St.
The South Western motorway has also been closed from Hillsborough Road in the north through to Coronation Road in the south. This will necessitate the public having to take an alternative route through to south auckland and the airport.

Reports of damage to a power transformer have also been received which may affect power supply in the immediate area.
It is expected that emergency services will be on site for some time and traffic diversions may be in place for some hours.
Issued By: Senior Sergeant Anthony Edwards

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This is an initial incident report only. As more information is gathered by Police at the scene some details may change.

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**xwhatsit** · 8th December 2008, 16:56

Originally Posted by klingon

*checks it out on google streetview* (to see what it used to look like before today!) That's quite close to a lot of other buildings isn't it? And they had/have a lot of timber & stuff outside? Or am I thinking of the ITM?

Yeah, I'm assuming Mangere Bridge is being carefully throttled right now, as they've got a whole lot of timber out the back, which is right next to the motorway (beyond a chain link fence). It's next to some other industrial places, machinists, tyre places etc., hopefully they're not toast too.

Jebus. Should've got a photo when it was really going, looked like an Iraqi skyline during Operation Shock & Awe or whatever silly thing they called it.

**xwhatsit** · 8th December 2008, 17:16

All right, apparently it's not so cool any more lol, just saw the news -- a plastic plant next door with lots of flammable gas (that's what I'm starting to smell now, the wind would shift direction, wouldn't it), and (!?!?!) an acetalyne plant there too. Christ.

Did I hear `16 fire appliances' correctly?

**samgab** · 8th December 2008, 17:20

Originally Posted by xwhatsit

All right, apparently it's not so cool any more lol, just saw the news -- a plastic plant next door with lots of flammable gas (that's what I'm starting to smell now, the wind would shift direction, wouldn't it), and (!?!?!) an acetalyne plant there too. Christ.

Did I hear `16 fire appliances' correctly?

Any other Mangere Bridge residents gonna take a sneaky ride over the old bridge for a nosy? Ha, bikes can go where cars can't!