Updated 7.33 pm

Vehicles destroyed in hospital carpark blaze

The fire in the Whangārei Hospital staff damaged multiple cars. Photo: Susan Edmunds
The fire in the Whangārei Hospital staff damaged multiple cars. Photo: Susan Edmunds
A blaze that damaged dozens of cars in a Whangarei Hospital carpark is believed to have been caused by a hot exhaust pipe igniting long grass nearby.

Fire investigator Jason Goffin said CCTV footage appeared to confirm that.

He said a vehicle had parked near long grass this afternoon and the hot exhaust pipe appeared to have started the fire, which spread along a row of parked cars fanned by a strong wind.

Fire and Emergency NZ said the big blaze was contained and crews were dampening down hotspots.

Firefighters were called to the scene about 2pm and and found cars and vegetation alight.

Five fire trucks and about 20 firefighters tackled the blaze, with brigades coming from Onetangi, Portland, Kamo and Whangārei.

Fenz said about 28 cars were damaged, but could not confirm how many had been destroyed.

A doctor at the hospital said flames and thick black smoke could be seen coming from the cars earlier, but the fire was well away from the clinical area.