Oil spill follows major fire at Penrose substation
A black plume of smoke blanketed Auckland as crews fought the blaze, leaving thousands without power and sending three workers to hospital.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
A large fire at a Vector electrical substation in Penrose, Auckland, has been extinguished, leaving an oil spill for local authorities to manage. The blaze started on Thursday afternoon and sent a thick column of black smoke rising over the city.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand dispatched up to 12 fire engines to the site at the height of the emergency. The intense heat and smoke caused thousands of customers to lose power. By the time the fire was under control, electricity had been restored for all users except one.
Three Vector workers were performing maintenance at the facility when the incident occurred. One of the workers was transported to Middlemore Hospital in serious condition, while two others were taken to Auckland City Hospital in moderate condition. Barry Thomas, an assistant district commander for Fire and Emergency, told 1News that the crew was on site for routine work when the problem arose.
A spokesperson for Vector confirmed that an investigation into the cause is underway. The company stated that it remains focused on the welfare and wellbeing of its staff. Fire and Emergency crews planned to rotate through the evening to monitor the site for any remaining hot spots.
Auckland Council is working with the Harbourmaster to determine the size of the oil spill. Kevin Reeve, a team leader for compliance at the council, said that the pollution response team and Healthy Waters units are on site. Reeve noted that once the extent of the discharge is confirmed, the council will provide an update on the necessary environmental monitoring.
Residents near the substation described the scene as frightening. Louise Kyle, who lives close to the site, said the smoke was dense and black, rising at least 150 feet into the air. She reported that the heat was intense and that she could taste the smoke in the back of her throat. Her car was covered in black ash after she rushed to leave the area.
Kerry Prendeville was driving on the Southern Motorway toward the city center when he passed the burning substation. He noted that the heat was comparable to an intense outdoor bonfire. Mieke Thompson-Pain, who was near Mt Wellington, said the scale of the fire was massive. She described feeling almost brought to tears by the sight of the billowing smoke and the impact it had on nearby homes.
