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Fears Coromandel Fire Could Spread As Winds Pick Up

22/1/2017

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​Fire crews gather for a morning briefing before tackling the Coromandel fire. Photo / Belinda Feek
The forecasted weather bomb has seen a change in wind direction at the scene of a massive bush fire south of Whitianga.

Thames Valley deputy principal rural fire officer Peter Smith says although that will bring rain, it also brings new and volatile challenges for fire and Department of Conservation crews tasked to work on the fire at Comers Rd, Kaimarama, south of Whitianga, this morning.
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The blaze has already ripped through 70ha of bush, scrub and homes, as well as wiping out most of the Wilderland Sustainable Community settlement. Smith said thanks to GPS mapping, they were late yesterday able to confirm the size of the fire which now stretches 70ha. It had also taken out four homes, he said.
Just after 3pm today, the NZ Defence Force said it would be sending firefighters to the area to help battle the blaze. Five experienced firefighters were being deployed to Whitianga to help. Major General Tim Gall, Commander Joint Forces NZ, said their firefighters - four from the Army and one from the Air Force - were being sent following a request from the National Rural Fire Authority.'

"Our firefighters have vast experience here and overseas in fighting bush fires. Last year, we sent 10 firefighters to remote bushland in northwest Tasmania to help battle the state's bush fires for about a month,'' General Gall said. "We will do our best to assist the local community in Whitianga and hope that our firefighting crew will be able to help get the blaze under control soon.''
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This morning, crews arrived for an 8am briefing where authorities will set a plan for the day. The wind change will hopefully bring rain with the weather bomb, but in the meantime it means the changeable winds could whip up new hotspots. "Ideally you want rain with no wind, there is quite strong erratic winds ahead of the incoming weather bomb, so we're hoping for the best and hope the winds don't give us too many embers and have some ember transferrage onto fuel [trees]."

Just up the hill, resident Amy Rogers, who has been looking after affected residents since the fire took hold yesterday, was busy cooking bacon, egg and salad rolls for hungry and exhausted fire crews. She said reports of four homes being destroyed in the blaze was wrong and said only two residences had been lost, the rest of the buildings were part of the Wilderland community. After putting up a few shocked residents the previous night, only one neighbour stayed last night. Others affected by the fire either stayed with friends or family, or spent the night in a motel.
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At a briefing this morning, planning officer Rory Renwick told firefighters the northwest winds would rise up to 30km/h by midday, which would cause gusts of up to 50km/h. "And with rough terrain plus this is not exactly flat, we will get wind from all sorts of directions and get gusts and flare-ups."
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​Planning officer Rory Renwick and Graham McIntyre at this morning's fire briefing.
He said there were "multiple structures" inside Wilderland, "we're not even sure how many." He told firefighters they needed to have their wits about them as the wind change had the potential for dangerous "uphill runs" - with the fire running uphill at a rapid pace.

Operations manager Dennis Cooper agreed there were serious concerns with the wind's volatility. "With the NW change, we're concerned about fire coming back down the peninsula, or back towards us. "We're expecting another wind change this afternoon." Cooper said the fire looked like it was out but it wasn't that clear-cut yet. "Looks like it's out but there are flare-ups and wind change and unburnt fuel, so be careful about where to go and what do."
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Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer Mike van Bysterveldt said there would be two bulldozers and diggers cutting firebreaks to contain the area. Twenty-six people were evacuated at the fire's height. Among them was Jani Dennis and neighbour Helen Lee, who had mere minutes to evacuate, grabbing her cellphone and precious saxophone.

All of the instruments used by the Mercury Bay Big Band were lost in the blaze. "They'll all gone, everything," Lee said. Despite valiant efforts by her neighbours Michael and Aaron Blowfield, who frantically cut down trees to slow the fire, the blaze surrounded her house and destroyed it. Lee and other evacuated residents were today still in shock and many gathered at another resident's home at the cordon on Comers Rd, crying and hugging as their loss sinks in.
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Warning After Spate Of Vegetation Fires

13/1/2017

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​Rural fire crews continued to dampen hot spots from the scrub blaze near the Ohaaki Power Station, south of Rotorua. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Several vegetation fires in and around Rotorua this week have sparked warnings for locals to take extra care around "high risk" areas and report any suspicious behaviour. The warning comes as fire crews continued to dampen "quite a few hot spots" remaining from the large scrub and grass blaze ignited yesterday, between the Ohaaki Power Station and the Waikato River.

A front loader was brought in today to help dig out some of the more entrenched hot spots and remove smouldering tree trunks. A fire investigator was on scene this afternoon to determine the cause of the fire. It is not yet known if it is suspicious. Firefighters were also called to a scrub fire on the Huka Falls and Spa Park walkway in Taupo this morning which is being treated as suspicious.

Fire Service Central-Lakes assistant area commander Hamish Smith said the blazes were a timely reminder that the region was entering its driest period of the year. "We're really starting to dry out now. Pumice soils and periods of wind coupled with the lack of rain over the last few weeks will be big contributors to the region drying out. "Even if the area looks green, chances are underneath it's completely dry."

Mr Smith said some of the "high risk" areas the fire service was concerned about included Sulphur Point and the Redwoods. "These are areas that have high foot traffic numbers, attract both tourists and homeless and run the risk of people lighting fires. "Because it is so dry and windy it doesn't take much for the smallest fire to spread and cover a large patch of vegetation." He said it was also vital the public alerted the fire service to any suspicious behaviour in and around high risk vegetation areas. "People need to use their common sense. There is a cost to fighting these fires. If you do see suspicious behaviour, alert the fire service immediately so if it is a fire, it doesn't spread."

Rotorua Lakes Council rural fire zone manager Richard Horn said he had been looking at the situation on a day by day basis. "Today I put a stop to burning at least until Sunday and then will reassess the weather conditions. People can still apply for open fire permits but we are asking them not to burn at the moment."

Taupo District Council rural fire zone manager Roger Nelson said there had been several vegetation fires over the last couple of weeks. "I've thought about putting a ban in place but at the moment we are just taking it day by day. I have declined a number of permit applications saying to apply again next week as hopefully the rain will come through that is forecast for this weekend. "Those that do have open fire permits we are asking them to take absolutely all precautions to ensure no fire gets out of control."

As of today, an immediate suspension has been put on all open air fire permits in the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City rural areas. Current permit holders are being asked to refrain from open air burning when possible.
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Vegetation fires January 6 - 12
Taupo: 6
Rotorua: 1
Reporoa: 1
Rotoma: 1
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Fire Crews Continue To Monitor 'Hot Spots' From Ohaaki Blaze

12/1/2017

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Fire crews will today attempt to dampen "quite a few hot spots" remaining from the large scrub and grass blaze that ignited yesterday south of Rotorua.
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A northern fire communications centre spokesman said a front loader would be brought in today to help "dig out" some of the more entrenched hot spots. He said three Taupo rural firefighters stayed overnight at the scene to make sure the blaze did not reignite. Te Toke Rd has been closed.

Fire Service Central-Lakes assistant area commander Hamish Smith said around 14 rural fire personnel would help dampen the hot spots today. He said by the time the blaze was controlled, it was too dark to determine the possible cause. A fire safety investigator will be on scene this morning.

About 45 firefighters from Rotorua, Taupo and around the region - as well as three helicopters with monsoon buckets - attended the fire, which broke out just before 4pm. The fire was between the Ohaaki Power Station and the banks of the Waikato River, covering 4ha.​

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Large Scrub Fire Near Reporoa To Burn Into Night

11/1/2017

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A large scrub and grass fire south of Rotorua is expected to burn into the night, as dry conditions and winds fan the flames. About 45 firefighters from Rotorua, Taupo and around the region - as well as three helicopters with monsoon buckets - attended the fire which broke out just before 4pm today.

The blaze also resulted in more than 500 properties being temporarily without power. Fire Service Central-Lakes assistant area commander Hamish Smith said the fire was between the Ohaaki Power Station and the banks of the Waikato River and covered four hectares.

By 8pm the fire was contained but still burning, he said. Rural firefighters would remain at the scene overnight and the situation was to be reassessed in the morning. He said the wind was "not our friend" - it had been up to 25 knots but had dropped to about 17 knots tonight.

Unison power customer relations officer Danny Gough said some power poles had been damaged in the fire however it appeared they had just been blackened. He said workers had not yet been able to inspect them, but he was hopeful there would not be significant damage.
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Mr Gough said power was disconnected to 560 customers in the area as a precaution, at the request of the fire service. Most properties were back on the grid by 7.30pm. The final six are expected to be reconnected tonight.
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Annabell Lane said her husband was working across the river when he spotted the flames and smoke and called 111. Mrs Lane said within half an hour the fire had grown a lot, as the wind fanned the flames. "It spread pretty quickly." Concerned the flames may jump the river in the "very dry" conditions, she and her husband quickly moved their stock.

Contact Energy head of communications Shaun Jones said the Ohaaki Power Station was not affected and all staff working in and around the area were quickly accounted for. Fire crews were based at the station and station staff were supporting them in any way they could, he said.
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Earlier:
A large scrub fire has broken out near the Ohaaki Power Station south of Rotorua, affecting power to 160 properties in the area. 

A Fire Service spokeswoman said the blaze was burning on multiple fronts on Te Toke Rd, off Ohaaki Rd. She said the call came in at 3.50pm. Fire crews from Rotorua, Taupo and Kinloch are the scene. Two helicopters are dropping water on the blaze.
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Contact Energy head of communications Shaun Jones said the Ohaaki Power Station was not affected by the fire. He said all staff working in and around the area had been accounted for.
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Fire crews were based at the station and station staff were offering support to them in any way they could, he said. Rotorua Daily Post photographer Ben Fraser said both ends of Ohaaki Rd were blocked off to traffic. He said the fire seemed "pretty big" and there was a lot of smoke, with the power station blanketed in it. He said the land around the area was very dry.
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Rural Fire Safety A Top Priority These Holidays

2/1/2017

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Left to right - Clark McCarthy, Simon Smith, Matthew Gatenby, Thomas Firth, Phil Muldoon, Amber Muldoon, Brendon Kidd, Quinn McCarthy.
Rotorua's rural fire team has five new recruits on board this summer, ready to help manage the annual busy season. The new personnel have been in training for the last 12 weeks, both in the field and in the classroom, covering everything from the nature of fires to personal safety and firefighting skills. 

New recruit, 17 year-old Amber Muldoon from John Paul College said she has learnt a lot from the training course. "My dad is the fire chief so it kind of runs in the family but I wanted to be able to get involved and give back to the community. "It's a great way to develop new skills and meet new people," she said. "The trainings have been really fun. We have learnt a lot, from basic firefighting to medical assist and first aid." ​
New rural fire recruit Amber Muldoon in action during a training exercise. Photo/Supplied
​The recruits will now be able to respond to incidents under the direction of the senior firefighters and will receive ongoing mentoring to help them further hone their skills. If you want to know more or volunteer as a Rural Fire Officer contact Rotorua Lakes Council on 07 348 4199 or via email to info@rotorualc.nz

Meanwhile fire restrictions apply to the Rotorua district between October and April so rural residents planning a burn-off or other type of fire need to apply for fire permit. This year Rotorua Lakes Council is working with Pumicelands to process fire permits and support on-the-ground operations. Pumicelands was established in 2015 from 10 separate rural fire districts in the central North Island to support ground operations, process permit applications and be the main point of contact for the area.

"Everyone is responsible when it comes to fire safety, particularly during our hot, dry summers. Making sure you have a fire permit is the first step," said council rural fire officer Richard Horn. "By working with our region, our mission is to protect lives, rural homes, orchards, farms, forests and conservation lands from the damaging effects of vegetation wildfires."

Fire permits are required in the rural area for:
-Open air fires (including controlled burns)
-Camp fires
-Rubbish fires
-Braziers
-Hāngi
-Incinerators
-Some coal barbecues

You can apply for fire permits online at www.pumicelands.co.nz. People with limited internet or computer access can apply for permits through local councils or by contacting a zone representative. If you need help or want to talk to someone in your area, contact your local zone representative by visiting the About Us section at www.pumicelands.co.nz.
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