Fire in university hall

Firefighters have contained a blaze on the eighth story of a University of Auckland student hall.

Eighteen fire appliances were called to O'Rorke Hall on Mount St, which usually houses about 350 students, shortly after 3pm where there was a fire in a bedroom, Fire Service spokesman Jaron Phillips said.

It did not appear anyone was injured.

Fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.

University of Auckland communications adviser Bill Williams said the fire had started on a mattress.

Students were given the all-clear to go back into the hall at 4.55pm.

There may have been fewer students than usual there because it was university holiday time, he said.