Firefighters battle large industrial building fire in Timaru

A person has been seriously injured in a fire at a Timaru industrial premises.

Fire and Emergency NZ were called to a fire in High Street shortly before 9am on Wednesday.

A spokesperson said the building, which was 30 metres by 40 metres in size, was engulfed in fire when firefighters arrived.

Firefighters from 10 crews are battling the blaze and it is now contained.

Crews are working to fully extinguish the fire, the spokesperson said.

St John said one patient was taken to hospital by helicopter in a serious condition.

An ambulance, a rapid response unit and an operations manager attended the fire, St John said.

A nearby business owner, Ken Cox from Coxy's Panel Repairs, said the fire was huge.

"The flames were probably a couple of metres above the roof from what I could see," he said.

A stack of 205 litre metal drums exploded and loud popping reverberated across the area, Cox said.

Roads are closed around the building and motorists are asked to avoid the area.

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