A large engineering workshop and helicopter base at Neils Beach, Jackson Bay, was burned to the ground in a massive blaze today, claiming at least one helicopter.
The building was owned by Barn Bay Fishing Company and Greenstone Helicopters owner Geoff Robson.
The alarm was raised shortly before 9am but by the time a fire crew arrived from Haast, about 50km to the north, the workshop-hanger had been totally destroyed.
Makarora helicopter operator Harvey Hutton flew over the mountains to help, using a monsoon bucket to scoop up water from the sea, but by 10am the fire crew on the ground reported a total loss.
A Neils Beach resident a few hundred metres from the adjacent airstrip got a phone call from the Haast police shortly before 9am to see if they could confirm a fire in the neighbourhood.
Lynda Hewer said one look out her kitchen window confirmed the building was engulfed in smoke and flames.
The hanger was built to the side of a private airstrip, and the building was about 100m long and 30m wide.
Mrs Hewer described "absolutely massive black smoke" and lots of loud bangs as the fire took hold.
Greymouth police confirmed this morning the building possibly held firearms and ammunition.
Mrs Hewer said from her look at the scene, the large building and a MD500 helicopter had been lost.
Another helicopter, a Robinson 44 - which had been used by police in the past couple of days in the search for the missing Greymouth fishermen after a fishing boat tragedy - had apparently not long left the hangar before the fire.
"They've lost their Barn Bay Fishing shed and I understand they've lost a 500," Mrs Hewer said.
"It's a big fire for a little place. It's a real shame."
Greenstone Helicopters also owns a Squirrel and another Robinson helicopter.
Mrs Hewer said the fire was a total surprise.
"The first I knew was when the phone went. It was the local policeman. I just looked out the window and there was all this black smoke."
Mr Robson is overseas while his wife, Pat, was staying in Nelson but was returning to Haast today.
Mrs Hewer said a Neils Beach resident only known as Colin was lucky to escape the fire as the hut where he lived was feeling the heat right next to the workshop complex.
The man had apparently been oblivious to the fire until Mr Robson's son Michael burst in, telling him to get out.
"Apparently he was on his computer, not knowing what was happening."
Haast fire volunteers had done everything they could but by 10am their only task was to dampen down the remains.
Mrs Hewer said it was lucky the fire crew had managed to stop fuel storage tanks at the site imploding, by wetting them down.
"The shed is a total loss. There's still a few fuel tanks still. They're okay. It could have been a lot worse."
A Fire Service inspector was flying to the scene this morning and expected to begin an immediate investigation in conjunction with police already on the ground.
- by Brendon McMahon
