27 Dec 2017

Fire at Auckland's largest cemetery

5:07 pm on 27 December 2017

A scrub fire the size of four football fields at a West Auckland cemetery has been put out.

Fire and Emergency said they were called to Waikumete Cemetery at 12.15pm.

There were several small fires which were now contained and 30 fire fighters remained on site, said shift manager Paul Radden.

The fires were contained by about 1pm, and have been extinguished. Firefighters were still on site dampening the area, however.

An Auckland Transport spokesperson said maintenance on the tracks meant there were already replacement bus services.

A KiwiRail spokesperson said it had not had any reports of damage that would impact future operations.

Catherine Moore, manager of Auckland Cemeteries, said the cemetery had not been evacuated.

"However we are monitoring the situation closely and will follow any directions of the fire service," she said.

"We ask that people keep away from the area until the situation is under control."