It took 15 fire engines and 60 firefighters to contain the blaze that hit kiwi grower Seeka Kiwifruit Industries’ Bay of Plenty (Oakside) Post-Harvest site overnight on Wednesday, March 4, leaving some facilities and the north shed wrecked. The shed was 200m x 200m in size, and part of the roof had to be removed to contain the fire.
Thankfully there have been no injuries reported, and no damage has occurred to the main packhouse, forecourt, curing canopy or rear cool stores, according to an announcement issued to the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
“The central coolstores are partially affected to the extent of some damage to a common wall that is adjacent to the North Shed. A preliminary inspection has shown that one coolroom of approximately 250k trays of capacity is significantly affected,” the announcement continued.
The news has meant that the company has instituted a media ban for approximately 24 hours before revealing further information, but it has confirmed that the Oakside site is still set to process more than nine million class 1 kiwifruit trays in 2015, out of a total volume of more than 24 million trays.
The announcement also offered growers, and the market, a reassurance that repairs and operational changes will be done to enable the kiwifruit season to continue without further adverse effects. Earnings are not expected to be affected in any material way thanks to comprehensive insurance cover, and any change to that position will be communicated under continuous disclosure rules.
The company also expressed its thanks to those who helped contain the fire. “Seeka would thank and express its appreciation to the Rural Fire Service who responded to the fire calling on units from TePuke, Katikati and Edgecumbe. The quick and responsive action of the Fire Service has successfully averted a far bigger disaster.”
It is not yet known how the fire started, and an investigation is underway.