The New Zealand women’s national team were among guests evacuated from Auckland’s Pullman Hotel as firefighters worked to contain ‘multiple blazes’.
Fires broke out at the hotel at about 7.50pm on Saturday, triggering an evacuation and a second-level response from fire and emergency services.
Newshub reported Fire and Emergency northern communications centre shift manager Mau Barbara as saying fire investigators were unsure what caused the fire but were treating it as suspicious.
Eight fire trucks went to the hotel, at the corner of Waterloo Quadrant and Princes Street, with about 26 firefighters, and a command post was set up.
Police attended and cordoned off the area.
A statement from New Zealand Football said:
“New Zealand Football can confirm that the Football Ferns team and staff have been temporarily evacuated from the Pullman Hotel, their team base for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, due to a fire.
“All of the team and staff are safe and accounted for.”
The Ferns left the hotel through a stairwell, running through thick smoke, according to the NZ Herald.
The team moved to a private dining room across the street and were waiting to learn if they’ll move to another hotel.
At 10.20pm, NZ Football added to their statement: “The situation has now been resolved.”
Stuff reports a Fire and Emergency spokesperson as saying:
”There were multiple fires that are now out; the cause is yet to be determined, but we have a fire investigator on scene.”
Four people were treated for smoke inhalation.
Police have asked the public to avoid the area.
Main photo: The Pullman Hotel on Saturday night. Photo credit: Video Forensics Twitter account.
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