Arson Charge Laid After Dual Blazes Rock Waiuku Recycling Facility
A significant blaze that devastated a Waiuku recycling facility earlier this week has led to an arson charge against a local man, even as the site experienced a second, smaller fire. The initial incident, which erupted late Monday evening at the Waiuku Business Park, saw more than 60 firefighters battling a massive inferno that consumed nearly 5000 square meters of plastic stored at the facility.
Suspicious Blaze & Spreading Flames
The fire, which police are treating as suspicious, also spread to six shipping containers belonging to an adjacent business, Designmax Homes. Sam Wulff, owner of Waiuku Business Park, confirmed he leased part of the industrial lot to Future Post, a company that converts waste plastic into fence posts. Wulff expressed shock at the possibility that the fire was deliberately started.
Local Man Charged
In a recent development, a 30-year-old local man has been charged with arson in connection with Monday night's fire. He is scheduled to appear in Pukekohe District Court on Wednesday.
Site Reignites in Early Hours
Adding to the complexity, firefighters were called back to the same business park in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Fire and Emergency shift manager Ryan Geen reported that crews found two shipping containers, previously involved in Monday's blaze, alight once more. The rekindled fire was brought under control by approximately 5 am. While no fire investigator or police were called to the scene for this second incident, the investigation into the original Monday night fire remains ongoing.
Community Impact & Ongoing Concerns
During the extensive Monday night fire, residents in the Waiuku area were advised to stay indoors due to the scale and nature of the blaze. The incident highlights concerns around industrial safety and the potential impact of deliberate acts on local communities and businesses in the Auckland Region.