Fire crews battle blaze at Gloriavale Christian Community
Fire crews are battling a large structure fire at the Gloriavale Christian Community compound at Haupiri on the West Coast.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand was called to the blaze shortly before 9pm on Friday, with crews from five brigades responding.
A FENZ shift manager told Stuff the first crews were sent from Moana and Ngahere before further information from people in the area prompted the incident to be upgraded to a second alarm.
That brought additional crews from Greymouth, Brunner and Ikamatua.
When firefighters arrived, they found a building measuring about 16 metres by 20 metres, with roughly half of it involved in fire.
Crews initially had to wait for electricity authorities to isolate power to the building.
That had since been completed, allowing four crews to work inside the building to extinguish the blaze.
Everyone at the property had been accounted for and there were no reports of injuries, the shift manager said.
Firefighters remained at the scene late on Friday night.
FENZ had not requested a fire investigator at that stage and there were no indications the blaze was considered suspicious.
Its incident log records the fire at Haupiri, in Grey District, at 8.55pm, with Moana, Brunner, Greymouth, Ikamatua and Ngahere brigades attending.
Gloriavale is an isolated Christian community based at Lake Haupiri on the West Coast.
It was founded in 1969 by Neville Cooper, who later changed his name to Hopeful Christian, and has operated as a largely self-contained community.
The community and its leadership have faced extensive scrutiny over working conditions and allegations of abuse.
Stuff approached the Gloriavale Christian Community for comment on Friday night but did not receive a response.