A total of 28 cars were damaged, with many of those completely destroyed, in the Whangārei Hospital car park fire. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Health New Zealand says it's removing vegetation from a Whangārei Hospital car park after a dramatic blaze damaged 28 staff cars, with at least half of those destroyed.
A Fire and Emergency investigator said the likely cause was a hot exhaust pipe coming into contact with dry grass. High winds then spread the flames through grass and two rows of cars on Tuesday.
That had been confirmed by CCTV footage from the car park, he said.
Fire investigator Jason Goffin at the Whangārei Hospital car park fire. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Health NZ Te Tai Tokerau operations director Alex Pimm said the organisation was looking at measures to reduce fire risk, including car park maintenance.
Pimm said some vegetation would be removed from the car park over the next few days.
Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
The car park, which takes up to 200 staff vehicles, reopened on Wednesday morning.
The parking area is about 200m from hospital buildings, which were not endangered by the ferocious blaze.
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