RNZ photo by Denise Garland

Wellington.Scoop
A fire on the roof of a restaurant on Cuba Street this afternoon resulted in Vivian Street/State Highway One being closed from the Victoria Street intersection for more than 90 minutes.

At 4.25, soon after the fire had started, the Transport Agency was asking southbound traffic to use the offramp before the Terrace Tunnel to avoid delays caused by the road being closed. Traffic that entered Vivian Street from the tunnel was being detoured into Victoria Street.

Seven crews were called to the fire. Social media reports first said it was in Logan Brown. However after a closer look, it seemed the fire was El Matador, next door.

Worse, it might indeed be El Matador, based on a video I saw on FB. Here’s a still. pic.twitter.com/7mXJ8r1eia

— The blurst of Toms (@newimprovedtom) November 10, 2019

Vivian Street was still closed after an hour. The delays didn’t start easing till it reopened at 6.05, but Cuba Street then stayed closed between Vivian Street and Abel Smith Street for another 75 minutes.

Swift work by @FireEmergencyNZ with the hose. It looks like it’s under control already. pic.twitter.com/Zl3tkQrSo2

— Thane Houston-Stevens (@TZHS_) November 10, 2019

The DomPost reported that Logan Brown owner Shaun Coulston said there was no damage to the building housing his restaurant. He said though they were affected by the disruption, firefighters had given their building the all clear and he was hoping to have it open for dining this evening.

And El Matador’s facebook page says: “The fire damaged our back prep kitchen roof area but the restaurant is fine aside from some water damage. … El Matador will re-open in the very near future.“