A Stuff drone captures dramatic footage of the burnt out shell of Total Plastics in Henderson, west Auckland.

Fresh smoke began wafting out of the burnt husk of a west Auckland factory early on Wednesday afternoon.

Senior station officer Jim Mclean said the fire service hadn't been able to locate the secondary fire, so he engaged the Stuff drone to hunt it out.

A small blaze was eventually spotted at the bottom corner of the building - around the spot where the original fire was started.

Chris Skelton/FAIRFAX NZ Firefighters battle a large fire in West Auckland.

The footage shows the blaze within the mangled mess of the burnt factory's interior, and a fire truck using its hose to extinguish it.

The factory - Total Plastics - was destroyed by a blaze on Tuesday night.

Flames and smoke had died down after the efforts of several fire trucks and rain that morning.

Chris McKeen Staff comfort each other outside the remains of the plastics factory in Henderson.

Nearly 100 firefighters fought the blaze overnight, which began about 10pm on Tuesday at Total Plastics in Aetna Place in Henderson.

Police and fire say it is too early, and the building too unsafe for them to enter and be able to assess, whether the fire was suspicious.

Total Plastics managing director Tony King said he was numb as he surveyed all that remained of his business.

CHRIS MCKEEN/Stuff.co.nz Fire crews secure the Henderson site that was destroyed by a blaze on Tuesday night.

"I'm still numb. First priority is looking after the staff, luckily no one was hurt. Next priority is customers - this affects their businesses too, no one holds stock any more. This fire affects a whole lot of people down the line," said Total Plastics managing director Tony King.

He hugged sobbing employees at the site on Wednesday morning.

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Chris McKeen / Fairfax NZ Firefighters remained on site on Wednesday morning securing the area.

"I have no idea how it started, none. The fire service said it started in the bottom corner of the building, but there are only unused toilets there. We've never had problems before, except tagging, and that's just a sign of the times.



"It's too early to say what will happen with workers' jobs - but they will be paid today. We're fully insured," he said.

"It was a huge shock waking up to the news - I need to take it all in."

He said he had spoken with the building's owner, who was also "devastated"

Chris McKeen / Fairfax NZ Burnt cars were lined up against the fence on Wednesday morning.

The building had a manual fire alarm system, that was not connected to the fire service, and no smoke detectors.

Residents in the area were advised to close windows and doors due to the thick, putrid smoke.

READ MORE: Recap: Massive blaze in Auckland

TOBI KINGSLEY Some 20 fire trucks were at the scene.

At its peak, 26 fire trucks, including four aerial appliances with large ladders, were at the scene.

Fire service northern communications shift manager Jaron Phillips confirmed the fire was being treated as suspicious.

Police were helping the fire service in their efforts to determine whether it was deliberately lit, a police spokesman said.

1 of 7 CHRIS SKELTON//FAIRFAX NZ Firefighters attempt to put out a fire on Aetna Place in Henderson, Auckland. 2 of 7 TOBI KINGSLEY Fire trucks lined up in a west Auckland street, ready to fight a factory fire. 3 of 7 TOBI KINGSLEY Flames and thick black smoke rise from a factory fire in Henderson, Auckland. 4 of 7 DHOM MARCELO Thick black smoke rises from a factory fire in west Auckland. 5 of 7 TOBI KINGSLEY Firefighters at the scene of the massive blaze. 6 of 7 TOBI KINGSLEY Nearby residents reported "explosions" from a factory fire in Henderson, Auckland. 7 of 7 TOBI KINGSLEY Close to 100 firefighters were called to the scene.

Fire risk management officer Chris Lewis said: "We'll probably need to get cranes lifting debris out of the building before we can safely get in."



"I expect to be here all day, at least"

About 8am on Wednesday, four trucks remained at the scene dampening down hotspots.

Senior station officer Chris Delfos, who had been on the scene since 2am, said the operation was being scaled down.

TOBI KINGSLEY Residents reported "explosions".

"There'll still be wisps of smoke inside, and these will be put out by the morning crew, who are arriving now.

"The investigation into its cause will start when we're sure everything is extinguished."

Water was gushing out of the building and the scene was a mess of mangled metal.

TOBI KINGSLEY Close to 100 firefighters were called to the scene.

The roadside wall of the building was mainly intact, with smashed windows.

Burnt cars from the wrecking yard were stacked up along the right-hand side of the building.

A worker, who did not want to be named, said it was an emotional day.

STUFF.CO.NZ Amateur footage of the fire in Henderson captures the moment of an explosion.

"I'd heard there had been a fire last night, but I didn't realise how bad it actually was. Now we see it, the place has just been gutted. We're all out of work and this is a sad day for us."

Aetna Place and adjacent Heremai Street were closed on Wednesday morning.

There was still a small amount of smoke in the area, but people could carry out their normal daily activities, the fire service said.

@TheComedyWife / TWITTER Flames could be seen engulfing the building.

Robin Wright, the owner of the next-door paint manufacturer Coating Technologies, said he never felt his business was at risk during the fire.

"The authorities did a wonderful job - the fire people had tonnes of resources, it was well organised, and we just feel sorry for the people who own the car wrecker."

Train services were disrupted on Tuesday night, but were expected to resume as normal on Wednesday morning.

Auckland Civil Defence was monitoring the incident, but scaled back its watch about 1.30am on Wednesday.

Auckland Council pollution control staff were also on site to limit damage to a nearby stream - which was being hit by slips caused by water flowing out of the building.



MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS

@TheComedyWife / TWITTER The fire in Henderson was at a commercial building.

Auckland Assistant Area Commander John Boothe said explosions were heard as firefighters arrived, minutes after the emergency call came through.

No one was injured in the blasts, he said.

"There were multiple explosions as we were getting to work, sending loud clouds of sparks into the air, so we're also keeping an eye on where those were falling.

Shoayb Khan/ FACEBOOK The fire could be seen across city rooftops.

"There'll be chemicals for plastics, we understand, also it's a car-dismantling workshop, so we've got cars, car bodies, probably petrol tanks and things like that."

The company's website said it specialised in injection moulding and electroplating on plastic. It also processes all types of plastics, from simple commodity materials, through to specialist engineering polymers.

Boothe said firefighters initially worked to protect a neighbouring factory.

"We got crews between the fire and that building and cut the fire off," he said.

"Hopefully we can also cut the fire off to the front office, but just at the moment, our biggest issue is getting enough water to operate our aerial appliances."

Water runoff was flowing into nearby Oratia Stream, and fire crews were trying to "dam that off".

Initially, 24 fire crews responded to the fire, which was described as being at "fourth alarm level".

But the fire service said at 10.45pm that close to 100 firefighters were now battling the blaze.

The fire service said there were a number of hazards at the scene, including "fallen power cables, explosive debris, water runoff, dense smoke and unknown chemicals".

TRAINS DISRUPTED

The blaze saw trains on the western line of the Auckland commuter rail network stopped on Tuesday night, with two trains held back from the Sunnyvale station due to the proximity of flames to train tracks.

However, there was no damage to the tracks and services were expected to resume on Wednesday morning.

Auckland Council said "a few passengers" were provided with alternative transport on Tuesday night to ensure they could get home.

The council's head of emergency operations Aaron Davis said Auckland Civil Defence was continuing to monitor the blaze, and would liaise with emergency services and provide any support they required.

"At the moment, we are on standby to help with weather assessments, provide assistance if evacuation is needed (not currently required) and make sure that Auckland Council's other services, like pollution response, are available," he said in a statement.

"We urge people in the Henderson area to remain indoors and keep doors and windows closed."

RESIDENTS FEAR THE WORST

Heremai St resident Sally Shalfoon was rattled by the fire opposite her home.

"I don't think they've stopped the explosions to be honest," she said.

Shalfoon and her daughter live just metres from the blaze.

"It was really quick, there were lots of explosions, it took them a hell of a lot of time to get it under control.

"It's pretty surreal, and when you live here, how far is the fire going to go?"

Although firefighters hadn't evacuated them, Shalfoon was worried the toxic smoke might force them out of their home, because her daughter, a paralysed wheelchair user, suffered from respiratory problems.

Much closer to the burning plastics factory, the Auckland Bible Study Fellowship congregation were evacuated from their church, some cradling young children.

Julie Beazer lives on a hill above the factory, and said she was alerted to the fire when she started hearing "popping noises."

"There are big explosion noises happening. We live quite a way up the hill and it is loud here so they are pretty big.

"Every so often there is a big, bright, white explosion."

Beazer said the fire was "massive" and the flames were reaching well into the sky.

Beazer said since the fire service had arrive the fire appeared to be getting smaller.

"I wouldn't saying they are getting it under control, but it does look smaller than it was."

She said the street was mostly industrial and didn't think any residents would be at risk.

"It is pretty close to a train station though, and there are lots of people around."

Heaps of explosions now and the fire seems to be growing. May have caught the power lines as well #henderson #fire #sunnyvale pic.twitter.com/rdeboDJkwe — J Bizzle (@TheComedyWife) September 27, 2016

Apparently it's a plastic factory near the train tracks. Seems to be getting worse #Henderson #Fire pic.twitter.com/QvcblnZEvC — J Bizzle (@TheComedyWife) September 27, 2016

Ashleigh Gilchrist also heard bangs and saw the smoke from the blaze.

"At first I thought it was fireworks due to the loud explosive sounds and sky lighting up, but the massive black cloud of smoke made it clear it was a fire."

Tobi Kingsley, who was about 400 metres from the blaze, said it appeared "to be more under control now", after two hours.

He said the smell of the blaze was hard to miss.

"The air is thick with smoke that smells like accidentally dropping a plastic container onto a fire when you are a kid multiplied by a thousand."

The fire service said anyone who had concerns should phone 111.

Clarification: This story originally stated that the factory had no fire alarms. The factory had a type 2 fire alarm system that was not connected to the fire service.