Large Blaze Rips Through Hamilton Restaurant

Fire crews from across the Waikato were called to a large blaze in a Hamilton restaurant this morning.

Emergency services were called to Domaine Restaurant, on Victoria St, just before 2.30am today.

Smoke could be seen billowing across the city as more than a dozen fire appliances brought the fire under control.

Resident Emma Joe woke up and could smell smoke and looked out the window to see a "frantic looking taxi driver".

"I could just smell smoke coming from under those shelter bits and told these guys (her flatmates) to get out," she said.

Miss Joe and her flatmates stood across the road and watched firefighters try to bring the fire under control.

The trio were hopeful their apartment, two doors down from Domaine, would escape any serious damage.

Waikato assistant fire area commander Darryl Papesch told the Herald at the scene they were alerted by the occupants of a two-storey apartment which sits at the rear of the restaurant.

"On arrival we noticed fire in the very back of the premises on Barton St. Upon entry we found it well-involved in fire."

The blaze eventually spread throughout the entire restaurant and into the apartment above.

It also crept into ceiling void of the neighbouring building but that was quickly extinguished.

The blaze was eventually brought under control about 4am.

Read the full story at NZHerald.co.nz