A major fire in an Auckland shopping arcade is now under control and firefighters are searching the gutted building amid fears people may have been inside.
The fire damaged shops inside and in the adjoining the arcade in Pukekohe, including a hair salon, La Red Berry Cafe, Seahorse Restaurant, laundromat and chemist.
"The last message we got was that they were still trying to establish if any people were in the building," Northern Fire Communications shift manager Megan Ruru said.
A strong stench of smoke now hung the central business district.
The Fire Service said 19 crews from throughout Auckland were called to the fast-spreading blaze.
Firefighters were trying to find out if people were still inside the gutted top storey of the arcade.
Just an hour earlier firefighters were called to a Papatoetoe house that caught fire after a car crashed into it.
The crash happened on the corner of Caspar and Tui roads.
A Fire Service spokesman said everyone escaped without injury.
