Updated 10.30pm: Only one fire appliance remains at the site of this evening's fire which has extensively damaged the gay-friendly The Den adult shop in Newmarket, Auckland. From the street apparently severe fire damage to the first floor premises is visible through shattered and smoke-blackened windows. A fire officer mopping up at the scene described the interior as "extensively damaged." As well as a retail outlet the premises contained offices and warehousing which serviced the other The Den outlets in Auckland. Updated 8:30pm: The NZ Fire Service has battled a large fire near The Den adult store in the central Auckland suburb of Newmarket this evening. Fire evacuation: The Den in Newmarket Over a dozen NZ Fire Service appliances arrived at the scene at around 5:30pm this afternoon, and the area was blocked off to traffic. Fire crew said the building was evacuated quickly and no-one was left inside. The fire was understood to have started in a restaurant below the store, and spread. The NZPA reports that two firecrew were injured while battling the blaze.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Thursday, 9th April 2009 - 5:48pm