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A historic church in Auckland’s suburb of Ponsonby is on fire, with dozens of firefighters fighting the blaze.
The 134-year-old church is a New Zealand heritage building.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has 18 teams fighting the fire at St. Stephens Presbyterian Church on Jervois Road.
Northern Fire communications shift manager Craig Dally said they were called to the fire just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY / Stuff
Fire crews were called to a major fire at a historic church Saturday afternoon.
The 20-meter by 40-meter blaze broke out in the main hall of the single-story church, he said.
There were no reports of anyone inside the church when the fire started, and there were no reports of injuries.
Smoke could be seen billowing over St. Stephens Presbyterian Church Saturday afternoon, and a passerby reported seeing flames coming from the roof.
Police and firefighters blocked Shelly Beach Rd and part of Ponsonby Rd and were diverting traffic.
Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
Flames can be seen on the roof of the church.
Some 150 people gathered on the street to watch dozens of firefighters tackle the blaze. Firefighters from three cherry pickers threw water into a large hole that had appeared in the ceiling.
Two stained glass windows are missing and much of the stave church is black and charred.
St Stephen’s is made from kauri. The original church was opened in 1879 and expanded in 1907.
ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY / Stuff
Fourteen teams are fighting the fire at St. Stephens Presbyterian Church.
