Firefighters are working to dampen a large fire at a building in Auckland's Parnell on Sunday.
Fire and Emergency (FENZ) crews have blocked off access to St Georges Bay Road, coming off Parnell Rise.
"Police have been notified of a well-involved building fire on St Georges Bay Road in Parnell reported around 4:40pm," a police spokesperson told Newshub.
"Fire and Emergency crews are working to contain the fire and police are assisting with traffic management."
The house where the fire is burning matches the description of backpacker hostel City Garden Lodge.
Police have reassured there are "no immediate concerns that anyone remains in the building".
A FENZ spokesperson told Newshub crews are currently responding to a structure fire.
"There are 10 fire trucks, alongside support vehicles, working to bring the well-involved fire under control."
The public is being urged to avoid the area.
The neighbour of the property told Newshub she was sitting down to watch TV for the evening, when she "smelt smoke and heard commotion".
"We went out to the balcony and saw a barrage of smoke and flames from nextdoor," she explained.
She said she watched on as the roof of the building collapsed.
"Us and our neighbors were in shock at how large the fire had gotten, we have been watching from a safe distance, and making sure it didn't move close to our places."
The woman told Newshub it looks like "it's a difficult fire to put out" and said it's caused "a lot of damage".
Multiple witnesses have filmed large plumes of black smoke in the sky.
Another nearby resident who spoke with Newshub said she had heard sirens "all afternoon".
"There have been so many sirens," she said. "I've heard helicopters, firetrucks, police cars, ambulances - everything."
"We actually locked all of our doors when we first heard all the sirens because we thought they were after someone on the loose."
She said there is "lots of smoke and grey clouds throughout the sky" and that it smells "really strong".
"It seems just like a Guy Fawke's bonfire".
