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Bush fire 'hot, dusty and extremely dangerous'

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 18 Jan 2017, 12:53PM
Comers Rd resident Helen Lee talks with neighbour Jani Dennis about the fire which claimed Lee's home and is currently threatening Dennis' home. (NZ Herald)
Comers Rd resident Helen Lee talks with neighbour Jani Dennis about the fire which claimed Lee's home and is currently threatening Dennis' home. (NZ Herald)

Bush fire 'hot, dusty and extremely dangerous'

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 18 Jan 2017, 12:53PM

It's a hot, dusty and extremely dangerous job on steep, fire-blackened terrain.

Welcome to the perilous work of the four ground crews now battling a bush fire near Whitianga that has already burned six homes to the ground and come close to destroying others.

The blaze, which has spread to 100ha over the past 12 hours, has been fuelled by strong south-westerly winds.

Some of the firefighters that have been toiling against the fire overnight could this morning be seen catching a rest at a control point set up halfway along the fire's ground zero, Comers Rd.

Helicopters could be heard buzzing overhead, as water tankers made their way down the dusty road.

Teams had come from nearby Kuaotunu and Colville, and as far afield as Hamilton.

"It's very steep terrain, it's hot, it's dusty, it's dirty and it's extremely dangerous work out there," said Peter Smith, deputy principal fire officer for the Thames Valley Rural Fire Authority.

Crews were now trying to contain and put out the fire before coming bad weather made the situation potentially worse.

"We're in the process of containing the fire," he told the Herald at the scene.

"We have got three helicopters, four ground crews and we've got a digger in there that's cutting some extra fire breaks.

"There are hot spots, and they've gone into the roots of some trees as well, so it's a matter before knocking them out before the wind gets up again."

Asked if forecast rain for this week could help, Smith said it could mean the opposite.

"The trouble with the wet weather is you get the high winds, so we want to get it damped down and finished before the winds turn up.

"We haven't got an up to date forecast, but down the line it's looks like it could be pretty severe... so we don't know if we're going to get there in time."

Comers Rd resident Helen Lee said her house had no chance of surviving the rampant fire which is engulfing many hectares of land on the Coromandel Peninsula.

She was only given a few minutes to evacuate, grabbing her cellphone and precious saxophone, leaving all her treasured possessions behind including all of the instruments used by the Mercury Bay Big Band.

"They'll all gone, everything," she said.

She said despite valiant efforts from her neighbours Michael and Aaron Blowfield who frantically cut trees down to slow the fire's path, the blaze eventually had her house surrounded before it was destroyed.

Lee and other evacuated residents were this morning still in shock at what's happened with many gathered at another residents home at the cordon on Comers Rd, crying and hugging as it all sinks in.

"The fire was too big, there was too many fronts," Lee said. It was everywhere. It was here, it was there, it was over there."

She was told by Michael Blowfield to evacuate about 5pm as there is only one road out and about 50 residents - including those from Wilderland - to use it.

There have been no reports of injury.

Lee's neighbour, Jani Dennis, said she's not sure if her house is okay as it was close to the fire's path.

"We don't know...our house is definitely not out of danger. This morning the fire was heading that way but the choppers were doing a fantastic job. They're like stars, the fire service. They worked till midnight and were up again at  6am."

Fortunately the wind had eased overnight so firefighters were beginning to make some head way. However, authorities were unsure how long it would take to get the fire under control.

She said it was fortunate that the affected area was surrounded by an estuary which expediated the firefighters' efforts.

"They were able to put a lot of water on it quite quickly but that big wind didn't help last night, I don't think."

Dennis said it was unclear how the fire started but there were rumours it may have begun in a digger on a nearby hill.

The fire had been smouldering all day but neighbours weren't made aware of it until they were told to evacuate.

Lee thanked everyone for helping them.

"I would like to commend the actions of my neighbours and also the fire service and helicopters."

Lee praised Michael Blowfield for helping save the house of his mother, Heather Hanson, as not only did he chop down trees but also used a bulldozer in helping clear the area.

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