Thick black smoke can be seen pouring out of the industrial site in the suburb of Bromley. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
Two businesses in an industrial building in the Christchurch suburb of Bromley have been badly damaged by fire, Fire and Emergency says.
The blaze broke out in a building on Maces Road early Monday afternoon, sending up thick black smoke.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) assistant fire commander Dave Key said that the fire was contained by 1am Tuesday morning but the fire was deep-seated in some of the material stored within the building, so the remaining one fire crew was working alongside a bobcat and digger to put it out.
There were a number of businesses in the building, Key said, and it was too early to say where the fire started.
He said two businesses, one which imports products for the likes of $2 shops and a business which recycles old computers and cell phones, were the worst affected.
About half the building was badly damaged, but there was extensive smoke and water damage in the other half, he said.
Fire investigators from FENZ and insurance companies were looking into the cause of the fire.
