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The Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) issued a public health advisory following a massive fire at a Christchurch pizza factory overnight.
The teams were called to the Romano’s Food Group pizza factory, which makes pizza and supermarket brand bases, in the suburb of Hillsborough at 1.13 a.m. Tuesday.
At the height of the fire, 11 appliances attended, involving about 50 firefighters from across Christchurch.
1 NEWS
Fire crews were called to the Christchurch factory in Hillsborough in the early hours of March 30.
Christchurch truck driver Keith Williams was on his way back to a truck depot in Hillsborough when a fire truck sped past him on Port Hills Rd shortly after 1 a.m. M.
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Minutes later, he saw gray smoke flowing from the roof of Romano’s factory about 600 meters in front of him on Foundry Dr.
It soon took off. Within 15 minutes, Williams could see the flames coming out of the building.
He quickly became concerned for the well-being of the workers inside, knowing that the factory ran through the night.
“The feeling of concern washed over me because I know it is a 24-hour operation, so I was hoping that all the staff would come out safely.
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Flames and a large column of black smoke erupt from the factory fire early Tuesday morning.
He said the large plumes of smoke, which billowed out of the burning building for hours, were so dense and widespread that his colleagues as far as Hornby, about 15 kilometers to the west, contacted him to say they could see smoke.
There were no reports of injuries, and a New Zealand Fire and Emergency (Fenz) spokesperson said they were all accounted for.
“There will be a lot of people who will wake up this morning and smell smoke.”
Those who were concerned about the smoke should stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed, the spokesman said.
JOSEPH JOHNSON / THINGS
Firefighters assess the damage at Romano’s pizza factory.
Canterbury Medical Health Officer Dr Ramon Pink said that exposure to smoke can worsen pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma and heart disease.
Plastic, including polystyrene, contributed significantly to the fire, Pink said, and the smoke was deemed toxic.
Northeast winds are known to send smoke in the direction of the Woolston, Ferrymead and Sumner Industrial Zone.
Pink said people affected by smoke should keep windows and doors closed, ventilate their home when the smoke clears, watch out for children, the elderly and others at risk, and keep pets indoors with clean water and meal.
JOSEPH JOHNSON / THINGS
The flames swept through the pizza factory overnight, leaving considerable damage.
Anyone experiencing health issues should contact their general practice team for advice, Pink said.
The smoke also prompted a warning from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ, which urged anyone with a respiratory condition living in Christchurch to avoid venturing outdoors if they can see or smell the smoke.
“Smoke is a major asthma trigger, as they are effectively tiny particles that enter the throat and lungs,” said Joanna Turner, manager of research and education for the foundation.
“This can seriously irritate those with respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis or COPD. [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], and children and the elderly are among those most at risk of unexpected outbreaks. “
JOSEPH JOHNSON / THINGS / Things
Fire crews are expected to be on site working to contain the blaze for most of Tuesday.
The number of crews has been reduced to about five. There is a fire investigator on site.
It was understood that the fire was still burning at 1 PM, but it was relatively minor and had basically been extinguished.
Canterbury area assistant commander Mike Bowden said crews will remain on site for the remainder of the day while buffering hot spots and monitoring outbreaks.
He said the fire was not being treated as suspicious, but that the cause was still being investigated.
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Plumes of smoke could be seen across much of the city.
Christchurch metropolitan area commander Dave Stackhouse said the factory’s design had made things difficult for those fighting the fire.
“Because it is a sandwich panel construction, it means that the fire burned rapidly inside, forcing us to attack from the outside with the aerial devices.”
The Canterbury District Board of Health had been notified of possible smoke drift from the fire and Fenz would speak with homeowners about their next steps, Stackhouse said.
The building is about 2000 square meters and is located within an industrial area in Hillsborough, in southeast Christchurch.
ALDEN WILLIAMS / Stuff
Christchurch metropolitan area commander Dave Stackhouse said the factory’s design had made things difficult for those fighting the fire.
Romano’s Food Group Limited started in 1975 in Christchurch as a manufacturer of fine pastry under the name Maxwell’s Pastry. The group’s first location was a small store on Ferry Rd in Woolston.
In the early 1980s, Maxwell’s Pastry bought Romano’s Pizzas and began producing fresh pizza for the South Island, later expanding to the North Island. Today the family business has grown into one of New Zealand’s leading manufacturers of pizzas, bases and supermarket brand bases.
