Mt Albert, Auckland house fire sends plumes of smoke across suburb, roads closed [Video]

A large house fire forced the closure of several roads in central Auckland this morning. 

Plumes of thick smoke could be seen across the suburb of Mt Albert as fire crews battled the blaze. 

Westbound lanes on St Lukes Rd were closed during rush-hour traffic but have since reopened. 

Taylor Rd and Alberton Ave were also closed. 

Images taken of the blaze show plumes of thick smoke billowing across Mt Albert. 

A reporter on the scene said parents were queued in cars trying to get children to school but were stuck in traffic on blocked roads. 

Firefighters at the scene of a house fire in Mt Albert. Photo / Jason Oxenham 

Traffic was snarled in the areas surrounding the fire, with cars sitting bumper to bumper down Alberton Ave and St Lukes Rd. 

The roof of a boarded-up house had been incinerated and the fire had been extinguished. 

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they were called to …