Residents near two beaches in Auckland's North Shore have been warned to avoid swimming as there are hazardous substances in the water due to a large fire nearby overnight.
Fire crews are damping down flare ups at a recycling centre in the area as the fire is now contained.
Safeswim has advised avoiding swimming at Milford and Castor Bay beaches after hazardous substances were found in the water due to the fire.
Fire and Emergency spokesperson Karen Larking said there are still one aerial appliance and three pumping appliances in attendance.
She said two diggers are also work on site to help open up structure to allow completion of distinguishing the fire.
An investigator is on site.
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Glenfield resident Macy Foulagi-koroi said a big plume of smoke came over their house at one point, and the street was full of smoke.
"It was pretty bad, we could smell it through the house even with all the windows closed," she said.
Foulagi-koroi said at one point she came out of the house to find her cats, and for a short time she felt a burning sensation in her eyes.
Tristan Zlami who lives less than 400 metres from the recyling plant was just getting home as the fire kicked off.
He said he heard loud bangs and felt the air smelt "chemically".
Zlami said firefighters asked them to evacuate due to the risks of smoke inhalation, but he ended up deciding to stay.
"They told us to leave, but we've got an elderly neighbour next door, she hasn't got a car...so if we were going to go, I was going to take her with me, but I just decided if it was just for the smoke, I knew it was fine inside, we had the windows closed, and it smelt fine in here, so I was happy to stay," he said.
Zlami said he felt sorry that the recycling plant - which provided jobs for people with disabilities - was now destroyed, and that there was a chance people working there might lose their jobs.
"Gotta feel sorry for all the special needs people working in there.
"Sounds like quite a cool thing they're doing, giving those people a job and having a place for them to hang out and work and earn some money," he said.
Zlami said he knew a blind man who worked at the plant and felt bad that he might lose his job.
Smoke has reduced
Fire and Emergency said smoke from the recycling plant fire in Auckland's North Shore has lessened.
Incident controller Steven Callagher said several large buildings were damaged in the fire and a lot of toxic substances have been released as a result, due to the presence of lithium iron batteries on the facility.
He said while the cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, initial information suggests it could've been caused by lithium batteries.
He said he expects the remaining crews - about 20 - to be on the scene throughout today to dampen down hotspots, and they will also be bringing in diggers to demolish the building to make it safer and prevent the risk of things falling down on people.
Callagher said he's aware of one of the Auckland aerial appliances breaking down last night during the firefighting.
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Meanwhile, shift commander Karen Larking said the warning for people to keep their windows closed has lifted - although some local roads remain closed due to concerns with visibility.
Yesterday, assistant commander Barry Thomas said the incident had been scaled down to a "second alarm" and fire crews were working to extinguish hot spots using ladder trucks.
"There is significantly less smoke, but it continues to affect communities in Glenfield and Witheford Heights," he said.
The industrial blaze in Auckland's North Shore broke out Thursday afternoon. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
"We advise people to stay inside and to keep windows closed if they smell or see smoke."
At least three fire trucks would monitor the fire and work to cool the interior overnight, Thomas said.
"We'll start work with heavy machinery in the morning."
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