A music business built up over decades by a Northland man has been wiped out in a massive fire.
Yesterday's blaze in a 25-metre steel shed on Waipapa Rd, Kerikeri, destroyed a vast quantity of sound, lighting and musical equipment used in concerts and community events all over Northland.
Owner Tony Harrison, of the Music Workshop, is understood to have been driving his wife and their young child to Auckland Airport at the time of the fire. She is on her way to visit family overseas.
Mr Harrison is a key figure in the music and entertainment scene in the north and is well known for his generosity and support for community events.
He founded the Be Free music and life skills mentoring programme which aimed to steer at-risk youth away from drugs by getting them involved in writing and performing music.
He chaired the trust for 10 years and some of his graduates are carving out careers in music.
He is also a staunch supporter of community events, providing sound and light equipment, and doing the mixing, at heavily discounted rates to non-profit or cash-strapped groups.
Neighbour Wendy Stanmore was the first to raise the alarm about 12.50pm yesterday.
She went into her bedroom, which faces the shed, and saw smoke coming out of the roof.
"So I just ran for the phone."
When the first firefighters arrived a few minutes later the eight-bay shed was well alight.
"It's very sad. It's his business and he's a very hard-working man. The whole family's hard-working. They'll be devastated," she said.
Muriwhenua fire commander Wipari Henwood said the shed was packed with the owner's lighting and musical equipment, "all his life's possessions".
When Kerikeri Fire Brigade arrived a skylight has fallen in and flames were venting out the roof.
Deputy fire chief Kevin Graham realised the severity of the blaze and raised it to a "second alarm", Fire and Rescue code for a major incident.
Two appliances and a tanker from Kerikeri were backed up by crews from Paihia and Okaihau.
The shed was locked so firefighters in breathing apparatus forced their way in through a roller door and found a "considerable fire" inside. While some attacked the fire from the inside others ensured it did not spread to other buildings or the neighbouring property.
There were initial concerns from a family member when the property owner could not be accounted for. After some phone calls it transpired he had taken his wife and child to Auckland.
Firefighters carried out another search once the fire was out to make sure, Mr Henwood said.
By 1pm the fire was out with the exception of a car which had been parked up against the shed and was ignited by the heat. A fuel leak, coupled with its position between the shed and a fence, made it difficult to extinguish.
With the hydrant on the other side of Waipapa Rd, firefighters placed metal ramps over the hoses so cars could still get past. The road remained open but was reduced to one lane, causing traffic to back up.
Mr Henwood said it was not immediately clear how the fire had started. A fire investigator inspected the shed yesterday afternoon in a bid to find the cause.
Sound engineer Merv Pinny, who regularly works with Mr Harrison, said he doubted any of the equipment would be salvageable. All that remained was a mixing desk Mr Harrison had taken to Auckland for an upgrade.
"He works really hard and tries his best to put on a good show. I also really respect the way he does community work, and I've enjoyed doing it with him."
