A Countdown supermarket in a West Auckland shopping centre is unlikely to reopen this week after a fire broke out in the snacks aisle of the store.
The fire started shortly before 8.30pm on Thursday at Countdown in the WestCity Waitkere shopping centre.
Stuff understands police believe the fire was caused by youths setting a packet of potato chips on fire.
The entire mall was evacuated because of the fire and about 60 firefighters responded to the incident.
READ MORE:* Police treating fire at West Auckland Countdown as arson
Police are treating the fire at Countdown WestCity as arson.
Countdown originally said the store would be closed for up to seven days but now say it is unlikely to reopen at all this week.
A Countdown spokeswoman said the main impact to the store was product and water damage.
Its unlikely well be reopening this week, she said.
Well update customers as we can over the week as to when its safe and OK to open.
Staff could be heard telling customers to evacuate the store.
The spokeswoman said Countdown staff have been working closely with police and Fire and Emergency to understand the cause of the fire.
Police believe it to be arson.
While we cant comment on the motives behind the event, were obviously disappointed that people may have intentionally started a fire in one of our stores, the spokeswoman said.
She said police had started a criminal investigation into the incident and Countdown has provided CCTV footage of the store and were supporting the investigation.
Firefighters who battled the blaze told central Auckland assistant area commander Roger Callister the visibility inside the store was down to zero.
They used thermal imaging cameras to make sure hotspots didnt erupt.
CORRECTION:An earlier version of this story incorrectly said a person had been charged over the fire, based on information from New Zealand Police. Police now say no one has been charged or arrested over the incident. (Amended May 10, 2021, 9.21pm)
