Pakuranga McDonald’s catches fire; evacuations underway, no injuries reported

A major fire broke out at a McDonald’s restaurant on Monday afternoon (May 5) on Pakuranga Road in East Auckland. It sent huge thick plumes of smoke into the sky, visible from the east Auckland suburb.

Police and the firefighters were alerted around 3 pm after receiving multiple calls about the blaze. Upon arrival, firefighters found the fast-food outlet "fully alight." The emergency services deployed six fire trucks, including a ladder truck, to battle the flames.

The Pakuranga fire has since been brought under control, and crews are working hard to extinguish hotspots.


“There was a big fireball and ongoing explosions. It seemed to start near the play area before spreading through the building,” said Reverend Amos Muzodiwa from the nearby Trinity Church.

Police have closed Pakuranga Road in both directions and have requested motorists to avoid the area. They have also confirmed that no injuries have been reported, and everyone in the McDonald’s and surrounding buildings was safely evacuated.

A McDonald’s spokesperson said, “Emergency protocols were followed as directed to raise the alarm and evacuate staff and customers safely.”

An employee at the nearby Z petrol station reported seeing a lot of smoke and visible flames. They shut down the station and moved away from the area following which firefighters secured the petrol station as a precaution.

Authorities have also launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

In a related incident on April 24, Ability Group’s Glenfield plant caught a devastating fire in Auckland’s North Shore area. Lithium-ion batteries caused the fire, which burned to the ground and destroyed essential equipment.