Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) has now contained the fires at an Auckland waste facility but are struggling to fully put them out.
It comes as two fires, one indoors and one outdoors, continue to burn into the night.
FENZ warned those in Ōnehunga who were flying drones must stop - as it poses a serious threat and could end in a disaster.
"It's exremely dangerous, because drones and helicopters don't go together and it could be catastrophic if a helicopter hit a drone," FENZ assistant commander Shaun Thornton said.
The huge fire has been burning since about 1pm on Wednesday at the Green Gorilla waste processing facility on Victoria St.
A drone was flown over the scene earlier in the day and the operator was quickly located.
"The drone was landed so that took care of that problem," Thornton told Newshub.
He said his message to residents remains to "stay away from the area".
"There are a lot of operations still going on here obviously, there are trucks coming and going."
He recommends people who are in their houses should close all their doors and windows and remain inside if they can.
A mobile alert from FENZ earlier on Wednesday warned people in the area of the fires danger.
"If the smoke causes respiratory problems, please ring Healthline for free advice on 0800 611 116 or see your doctor if you have breathing difficulties or chest pain," the alert reads.
"Anyone flying a drone in the Ōnehunga area [needs] to ground it immediately so FENZ can carry out helicopter operations to help put the fire out."
Earlier, FENZ Waitematā acting district manager and incident controller Katie Pocock told Newshub crews were called to the blaze just after 1pm.
"My understanding is that it started in a large pile of rubbish that was under shelter, it spread very rapidly and now we are working to contain that fire and protect neighbouring buildings," Pocock said.
"What is on fire at the moment is rubbish waste, garden waste, palletised waste and a variety of different kinds of waste."
She said crews worked with police to evacuate neighbouring buildings.
Pocock said it's too soon to know how the fire started.
A police spokesperson said there have been no reported injuries.
Footage from the scene showed large flames a huge amount of smoke billowing into the sky.
Auckland Transport said the road is closed at the intersection of Ōnehunga's Neilson and Victoria Sts.
"Avoid this area or expect delays with diversions in place affecting all traffic, including bus services."
Motorists were also being told to expect delays on State Highway 20.
In a statement, Green Gorilla chief executive Elaine Morgan said the cause of the fire was under investigation.
"At Green Gorilla, the safety of our community, employees and the environment remains our utmost priority. I want to reassure everyone that no one has been harmed as a result of this incident.
"We are working in partnership with FENZ and Auckland City Council to respond to the fire and mitigate any potential impacts on the community and environment.
"Please follow the advice and guidance provided by FENZ to ensure your safety and minimise any potential risks associated with the fire.
"I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the dedicated Green Gorilla staff for their swift response to the fire incident. Through their adherence to safety protocols and best practices, we have thankfully avoided any injuries."
