A large scrub fire that endangered buildings in Taupo
yesterday has been extinguished.
The blaze, which forced the evacuation of the Spa Hotel,
destroyed about 3ha of vegetation before being brought under
control.
A Fire Service spokesman said the blaze was extinguished
about 4.30pm yesterday.
Staff and 18 guests of the hotel watched from several hundred
metres away as smoke billowed into the air and wind whipped
the flames towards the pub.
"Police rushed down and said 'go, go, go. Grab your wallet
and go'," lessee Scott Rinkin said.
"We told everyone to jump in their cars and go."
The fire is being treated as suspicious.
Northern communications shift manager Jaron Phillips said
firefighters were called to 33 vegetation fires between
midnight and 8pm yesterday.
He said extreme care was needed as firefighters faced
tinderbox conditions in much of the country.
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