A commercial building fire in Milson, Palmerston North had 12 fire appliances attending. Photo / Palmerston North Fire Brigade
Twelve fire trucks and seven support vehicles from the Manawatū area attended the blaze, with further fire engines from Whanganui, Paraparaumu and Porirua.
The family acknowledged emergency services efforts, saying crews put themselves “in harm’s way to contain the fire and protect what they could”.
Several firefighters were assessed by paramedics for fatigue, given the nature and duration of the fire.
“Their professionalism, courage, and dedication are nothing short of heroic, and we are deeply grateful for everything they did.”
On Wednesday, the Palmerston North fire crew said JFK Drive would be shut for “some time” and reminded residents downwind of the smoke to shut windows and leave air conditioning off.
The family appreciated the community’s patience while the situation had been managed.
“We are aware that the wider community has experienced some disruption in the days following the fire, including from smoke and odour.”
While the family acknowledged the road ahead would take time, their focus now turned to getting back up and running.
They were grateful to their own staff, who sat alongside the family into the early hours watching the fire unfold.
“Their loyalty, care, and commitment mean the world to us.”
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said on Wednesday that it was too early to determine a cause of the fire, but a fire investigator was on site.