A commercial building fire in Christchurch which saw businesses within the immediate area evacuated is now under control, and people are now returning to their buildings.
Emergency services were called to the fire on Buchan St in Sydenham about 11.40am.
Emergency services were called to the fire on Buchan St in Sydenham about 11.40am. (Source: 1News)
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson told 1News firefighters from the Spreydon and Christchurch City stations were called to the site when they "saw large plumes of smoke already coming from the building" and requested more crews.
"On arrival, [the crews] found the front of the workshop building well involved and we worked to extinguish that fire," the spokesperson said.
There were four appliances at the site at the peak of the fire.
"The fire was contained to the one building and a fire investigator did attend, however a cause of the fire has not been determined."
The blaze "is now under control".
Fire and Emergency crews left the scene just before 2pm.
Police were at the scene assisting with road closures, traffic management and evacuations of the immediate area.
People in buildings within 100 metres of the blaze were earlier evacuated "due to concerns of the material that was on fire", a police spokesperson told 1News.
"Evacuations have now subsided and people can re-enter their buildings in the area."
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