A McDonald's store on Fergusson Drive in Silverstream, Upper Hutt, in New Zealand caught fire on its roof on Friday (12 Feb.)

The fire was reported on Friday afternoon and thick smoke clouds could be seen on the roof of the McDonald's joint.

The fire at McDonald's in Silverstream, in Upper Hutt, has been extinguished. 

A fire communications spokeswoman said the fire across Hutt Valley had been put out around 9 p.m. on Friday. 

Fire services were called to building just after 2 p.m. on Friday. By about 3 p.m, a dozen fire engines were at the site, with a number of onlookers watching. 

According to a report by The Dominion Post, assistant area commander Esitone Pauga claimed that there was a fire in the roof when the crews reached the scene. He also said the restaurant was smoke-logged.

As the fire blazed on, evening rush-hour traffic was packed full along the State Highway 2 near the Silverstream exit. Trains were also halted and the road outside the restaurant was closed.

A statement was issued by McDonald's that acknowledged the fire, saying that it had been reported at the Silverstream, Upper Hutt outlet on Friday afternoon. It further explained that the restaurant had been evacuated and no customers or staff had been injured.

According to Christine Hast, a worker at St Patrick's College which is opposite McDonald's, when the fire was at its peak, smoke was billowing out of the building. 

She also said that workers from the McDonald's outlet had come over to the school to warn the students not to go there. Apparently, the students had been McDonald's biggest customers at that time of day.

Students from St Patrick's had reportedly been gathered near the school fence across the road watching the fire.

An onlooker said that the fire had almost smoldered away but then picked up again as it started roaring away, The Dominion Post reported.