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Train believed to have caused 21 fires

Author
Tyler Adams,
Publish Date
Mon, 26 Jan 2015, 6:05AM
Photo: Lisa Carter
Photo: Lisa Carter

Train believed to have caused 21 fires

Author
Tyler Adams,
Publish Date
Mon, 26 Jan 2015, 6:05AM

Fire crews were still monitoring hotspots last night after putting out 21 fires thought to have been sparked by a train, the day before.

The fires started along 12 kilometres of track where a Dunedin Railways steam train was on an excursion carrying 400 people to Oamaru on Saturday.

Investigations are underway to determine how they were started.

Principal Otago Rural Fire Officer Stephanie Rotarangi says at the peak of the blaze, 15 appliances and three helicopters were involved.

"We had 21 different fires spread along 12 kilometres, so it was quite complex to manage that amount of fires."

\Hotspots were again being monitored last night.

Rotarangi says if it's proven they were sparked by the company’s steam train, they'll have to pay costs.

"At this stage, we know that all the fires started beside the train track, however we need to investigate further to see exactly what happened.

"Rural fire authorities always recoup their costs from whoever started the fire."

 

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