Fire Destroys Restaurant at Luxury Te Arai Links Golf Course (NZ)
A major fire broke out at the luxury Te Arai Links golf course north of Auckland on Sunday morning, forcing the evacuation of breakfast diners as crews battled high winds and low water pressure to contain the blaze.
Emergency services received multiple calls around 10:00 AM reporting a fire at the 40x20m building. Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) shift manager Ryan Geen told Stuff that the flames were “well involved throughout the roof” upon arrival. Officials later confirmed the damage was catastrophic, stating the building was “destroyed” in the blaze.
Challenges on the Ground
The firefighting effort was significantly hampered by environmental factors that allowed the fire to take hold:
- Poor Water Pressure: Low pressure at the site slowed the initial response.
- Adverse Weather: Strong winds were described by Geen as “not favourable,” helping the fire sweep through the structure.
Because of these conditions, it took crews approximately two hours to bring the fire under control. Specialist command units were brought in from Whāngarei to assist local crews in managing the scene.
Evacuation and Safety
Despite the total loss of the building, no injuries were reported. A spokesperson for the golf course confirmed that the fire’s point of origin allowed for a quick and safe exit for guests.
“The fire started at the back of the building so we had enough time to evacuate the people who were there for breakfast,” the spokesperson said.
Current Status
By Sunday afternoon, the situation had stabilised. A digger was brought to the site to assist fire brigades in moving charred debris and dampening down hotspots to prevent any reignition. An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to follow.
SOURCE: Facebook
