Fire and Emergency NZ is working to extinguish a huge fire at a car sales and storage yard in Auckland’s Penrose this morning.

Emergency services were called to the fire on Maurice Rd in the Penrose industrial area just before 1am.

Auckland City assistant commander Roger Callister told the Herald from the scene of the fire this morning that they were dealing with multiple explosions from inside the building - but were unsure of the sources.

“Could be batteries, could be oxyacetylene, could be LPG,” said Callister.

Fire and emergency crews from across Auckland continue to battle a large blaze at a warehouse on Maurice Road, Penrose. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Callister estimated around 75% of the 130m x 15m, 7m high warehouse has fire spread through it.

“At this stage, I think we’ve got fire spread under control, but the fire is nowhere near extinguished yet,” said Callister.

Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Michael Anderson said the building was well alight when crews arrived.

Nine fire engines, three ladder trucks, a command unit and multiple support vehicles and about 50 firefighters are at the blaze.

A fire investigator is also at the scene and will be there “for some time”.

“[We] ask that public avoid the area and allow us to operate safely.”

Fire and emergency crews from across Auckland Region continue to battle a large blaze at a car yard on Maurice Road, Penrose. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Fire and Emergency is still trying to ascertain exactly what’s inside the building.

“It appears that we’ve got quite a few cars inside the building on one part of the building, but where most of the fire is, is another tenancy which we haven’t been able to determine what’s going on, what’s being stored in there,” said Callister.

Callister said Maurice Rd will be closed for “quite a few hours”.