The blaze damaged four buildings behind a Tongan church in Māngere Bridge. Photo: RNZ
Families who lost their homes in a fire in Auckland's Māngere Bridge are lucky to be alive, Fire and Emergency (FENZ) believes.
Four families have been displaced after their homes burnt to the ground on Coronation Road around 3am.
The blaze destroyed four cabins on the Māngere Bridge church complex where families in need of housing have been living in temporary accommodation.
About 20 people including young children will have to spend Thursday night at their South Auckland church after the fire.
Church trustee Frank Koloi said about 40 people lived on the site and those who had been made homeless would be staying in the church hall.
FENZ assistant commander Chris Delfos said there were no sprinklers and no evidence of smoke alarms in the church buildings housing the families.
FENZ was concerned at the number of people staying in the buildings. Delfos told Midday Report they were more like garages, rather than houses.
"We didn't see or hear any smoke alarms. There definitely weren't any sprinklers in the building, either. It was very lucky that all of these people got out of the fire in time."
Delfos said the blaze appeared to be an electrical fire.
The buildings are owned by the Akoteu Faka-Kalisitiane Ko Namoa church.
Meanwhile, public health officials assessed the risk of asbestos to the Māngere Bridge community after the fire, because of the age of the buildings that were destroyed.
Te Whatu Ora Medical Officer of Health Denise Barnfather said the samples taken from around the fire contained no asbestos.
Nearby schools and an early childhood centre were asked to keep their children inside earlier today until the risk was known and further advice could be given.
Namoa Pre-school, which is on the church's site, is closed until further notice.
FENZ has dampened down areas close to the fire site to reduce any spread of asbestos fibres, if they are present.
Te Whatu Ora says that, combined with a lack of wind, meant there was a low risk for other Māngere Bridge properties.
