The New Zealand Fire Service is asking the public who witnessed the explosion and fire at the Tamahere Ice Pak coolstore on Saturday to help them with their investigation.

'We are after any pictures or reports of damage to buildings or structures that might help investigators reconstruct the event at the Ice Pak coolstore on Saturday,' said Dr Paula Beever, head of the inquiry team into the incident.

An independent team, to be announced early next week, will conduct the investigation into the Tamahere Ice Pak coolstore blaze at the weekend that resulted in the loss of life of SSO Derek Lovell, and serious injury to seven of his fellow firefighters.

'Information about the address or location of any damage resulting from the explosion and fire is crucial for the investigation. And I would like to stress, any details sent to us would not be used for any other purpose.'

The public can email photographs to: tamahere@fire.org.nz; or post to: PO Box 2133, The Terrace, Wellington, attention: Fa'a Parsons