Fire crews are battling a large building fire at a building on the site of the old Seaview Hospital and asylum, near Hokitika, on the South Island’s West Coast.

Multiple 111 calls alerted Fire and Emergency to the blaze at the Seaview Terraces just after 7am.

A resident who filmed the blaze said it could be seen right around Hokitika and the surrounding area.

“It was huge,” the man told the Herald.

Crews are working to put out a large building fire near Hokitika on the South Island's West Coast. Photo / Anita Bennett

There are seven trucks, two water tankers, one civilian water tanker, and several support vehicles at the scene.

The building is believed to be unoccupied.

Fire crews are expected to be at the scene for some time.