Penrose fire leaves three injured as oil spill prompts council response

A maintenance error at a Vector electrical substation in Penrose triggered a major fire on Thursday afternoon that left three workers injured and released oil into the environment. The incident forced a coordinated response from Auckland Council, the Harbourmaster, and Fire and Emergency New Zealand to contain the damage and assess the environmental impact.

Three Vector employees were performing maintenance when the incident occurred, according to Fire and Emergency assistant district commander Barry Thomas. One worker was transported to Middlemore Hospital in serious condition, while two others were taken to Auckland City Hospital in moderate condition. Vector confirmed that an investigation into the root cause is underway and stated that the company remains focused on the welfare of its crew.

The fire generated a dense black plume of smoke visible across the city. Up to 12 fire engines were deployed at the peak of the blaze. Thousands of customers experienced power outages during the incident. Power has since been restored to all but one customer. Fire crews rotated through the evening to monitor the site for hot spots overnight.

Auckland Council team leader Kevin Reeve stated that the council is working with the Harbourmaster and Fire and Emergency New Zealand to determine the extent of the oil spill. He noted that the pollution response team and Healthy Waters are currently onsite. Reeve said the council will provide an update on environmental monitoring once the full extent of the discharge is confirmed.

Residents in the area described intense heat and visible ash during the afternoon. Kerry Prendeville, driving on the Southern Motorway, reported feeling heat like an intense outdoor bonfire. Louise Kyle, who lives near the substation, described seeing smoke rising more than 150 feet into the air. She noted that her car was covered in black ash and that she could taste the smoke in her throat.

Mieke Thompson-Pain, who was near Mt Wellington, said the scale of the fire was visible from a distance. She recalled her father pointing out the massive black smoke in the sky. The sight prompted nearby residents to rush outside, with one woman running up the road fearing her home was affected.