State Highway 1 Reopens as Heavy Machinery Moves in to Clear Palm Kernel After Invercargill Blaze

Invercargill, New Zealand – Fire and Emergency services will continue their efforts this morning to fully extinguish the blaze at a palm kernel storage facility in Lake St, Invercargill. The fire, which broke out last night, is largely contained, but hotspots remain in the palm kernel inside the building.

At its peak, nine trucks and a Command Unit were on the scene to fight the fire. However, two crews remain on site to dampen down the hotspots. Firefighters will work with the building owner to bring in heavy machinery to safely clear the palm kernel.

State Highway 1 has been reopened to traffic. Motorists are advised to take extra care and follow the directions of emergency services personnel in the area.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and an investigation will be conducted once the fire is fully extinguished. No injuries have been reported so far, and the extent of the damage to the facility is yet to be assessed.

Residents in the area are advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke and to stay away from the site to allow emergency services to continue their work.

Fire and Emergency services have commended the swift action of their crews and the support of the building owner in their efforts to contain the fire. They have also thanked the public for their cooperation and understanding during this time.

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