Otago Daily Times photographer Gerard O'Brien took to
the air above the fire-ravaged Taieri Plain and watched
helicopters filling their monsoon buckets, then "flying in
convoys'' into the billowing smoke.
Watching from an observation helicopter, he marvelled at how
the aerial fire fighters "just disappeared'' into the haze to
drop water on the fire which has destroyed 400ha of forest,
and threatens high tension power lines.
"They'd have to be pretty aware of what they are doing,'' Mr
O'Brien said of the pilots.
It was hard to see any flames because the smoke, which rose
about 1500m from the ground, obliterated the view. However,
the sheer volume of smoke was impressive.
"The area itself is big, with most of it down low, spreading
over the Taieri Plain.''
From Mr O'Brien's vantage point it appeared most of the area
that has been burnt had already been logged.
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