Last drinks? Punters fear they won’t get back into Auckland rooftop bar after fire
Smoke has been seen pouring out of an Auckland CBD building as firefighters respond to a blaze at a popular rooftop bar.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand received multiple calls this evening reporting a fire at Auckland pub Mr Murdoch’s.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said eight fire trucks, a command unit and several support vehicles were dispatched to the scene after 6pm.
Crews from across Auckland are responding to the fire from the ground and from an aerial appliance. Photo / Corey Fleming
The blaze had been traced to a commercial kitchen on the second floor of a Fort St building, with crews tackling the fire from inside the building with hose lines, while an aerial appliance is operating from outside.
The spokesperson said the building’s sprinkler system appears to have done a “good job” containing the fire.
A local shop owner told the Herald about 40 to 50 people had gathered outside the building as smoke was visibly rising from the rooftop.
A worker at a sports bar below the site of the fire says the building has been flooded with water as firefighters battle the blaze. Photo / Corey Fleming
A worker from The Right Track Sports Cafe, which is below Mr Murdoch’s, said the bar has been completely flooded.
The staff member knew of the water coming down before they were aware of a fire and wasn’t sure if anyone was in the venue above.
The sports bar is not expected to reopen this evening, with staff facing a lengthy clean-up operation.
Several punters told the Herald they suspect they will not be able to return to finish their drinks this evening.
One bargoer said they had been enjoying a quiet beverage outside when the incident unfolded.
“We were sitting outside having a wonderful time, reading a lovely letter that I got from my colleagues, it was a great moment,” they said.
“Then the smoke started. It ruined everything; we even lost a cider.”
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