Major fire in Queenstown sends smoke drifting over town

A major fire at a pub in central Queenstown is contained but not fully out, Fire and Emergency say, and traffic has backed up as two of the town’s main streets are blocked off.

Crews from seven Fire and Emergency trucks responded to a major fire at a building in Queenstown this morning.

Just after 7am on Sunday, emergency services were called to the blaze at Speight’s Ale House on Stanley Street. Images online showed smoke drifting over the town.

FENZ said firefighters had to remove the roof to help extinguish the flames.

A nearby building was evacuated as a precaution due to smoke.

Police closed Stanley Street while firefighters worked at the scene.

Waka Kotahi said Ballarat Street was also closed due to the fire and drivers should follow directions of emergency services on-site or avoid the area.

Queenstown photographer James Allan said the blaze had brought the centre of the town to a standstill.

“It blocks the entirety of Stanley and half of Ballarat Street, and that’s … the main entrance into Queenstown, so there’s a number of stock trucks, buses and vehicles that are either stuck or quite significant detours around the town at the moment.”

By mid-morning Sunday, police said no one had been injured in the fire.

They expected Stanley Street to be closed for several hours and asked heavy vehicles to avoid the area.

SH6A QUEENSTOWN, OTAGO – FIRE – 7:30AM, SUN 19 MAR
Due to a fire on Stanley St, the road is CLOSED at Ballarat St. Please follow directions of emergency services on-site or avoid the area. ^EH pic.twitter.com/eiDJyjKrOs

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Otago & Southland (@WakaKotahiOS) March 18, 2023