Since then, the Pakuranga fire has been under control and staff are working to put out the hot spots.
“There were large fireballs and an ongoing explosion. It seemed to start near the play area and then spread across the building,” said Amos Muzodiwa of nearby Trinity Church.
Police closed Pakuranga Road in both directions and asked motorists to avoid the area. They also confirmed that no injuries have been reported and that McDonald's and everyone in the surrounding buildings have been safely evacuated.
“As directed as directed, follow emergency protocols to raise alarms and safely evacuate employees and customers,” a McDonald's spokesman said. An employee at the nearby Z gasoline station reported seeing a lot of smoke and visible flames. They closed the station and moved away from the subsequent area, and firefighters secured the gas station for preventive measures. Authorities also investigated the cause of the fire.
In the related incident on April 24, the Capacity Group's Grenfield plant caused a devastating fire in the North Shore of Auckland. Lithium-ion batteries caused a fire that burned on the ground and destroyed essential equipment.
