Onehunga hair salon engulfed in large blaze, investigator in attendance as crews extinguish fire

Emergency services are at the scene of a large fire which has badly damaged a hair and beauty clinic in Auckland’s Onehunga in Auckland.

Photos from the scene near Onehunga Mall show a red glow from the blaze and billowing smoke.

Fire and Emergency NZ said at least one person was evacuated from the commercial building which was ablaze, and about eight others were evacuated from accommodation in an adjoining building.

FENZ had 12 fire trucks and multiple support vehicles battling the third alarm level fire at the two-storey building, and the fire was put out by about 6.30pm on Sunday night.

The fire was at Chocolate Af’hair hair salon in Onehunga Mall. The neighbouring accommodation was affected by smoke exposure, but there were no signs it was involved in the fire.

“We received multiple calls to a building on fire shortly after 5.30pm,” a FENZ spokesman said.

Upon arrival, crews located the blaze at the rear of a two-storey shop in a building about 15mx15m in size.

“Multiple crews went inside the building to carry out a fire attack, before requesting further support.”

Seven fire engines, three ladder trucks and two specialist vehicles worked to extinguish the blaze alongside numerous support vehicles and a fire investigator.

FENZ said everyone was accounted for and no other buildings were in danger.

Nearby resident Gina Lio told the Herald she was watching television at her home on Colonel Nixon Street when she smelt smoke in her living room.

“When I came outside I saw black smoke and it smelt like burning chemicals.”

Lio said she walked over to the fire to take photos but had to leave shortly after because it was “too hard to breathe”.

“I can still smell it in my house and I’m getting a bit of a headache from it.”

Another witness said she could see multiple emergency services vehicles and a helicopter was circling overhead.

Police closed off a portion of Trafalgar Street.

The incident was a building fire, police said, and directed media queries to FENZ.

“We’re supporting with road closures in the immediate area.”

* This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald, with RNZ