Embers from winter ignite

A firefighter on Earnscleugh Rd, near Clyde. Alexandra and Clyde volunteer firefighters attended...
A firefighter on Earnscleugh Rd, near Clyde. Alexandra and Clyde volunteer firefighters attended four fires in 90 minutes on Saturday. Photo by Sarah Marquet.
Alexandra and Clyde volunteer firefighters were called to two separate fires within 20 minutes on Saturday afternoon, both sparking into life after embers from earlier fires re-ignited.

Clyde Chief Fire Officer Richard Davidson said the first fire, on Earnscleugh Rd, near Clyde, was from embers of a fire "months before".

The second fire, 20 minutes later on Fruitgrowers Rd, near Clyde, had to be attended by the Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade as Clyde firefighters were busy at the first fire and at the scene of an earlier car crash.

Alexandra Station Officer Brendon Walker said the second call was because smoke was rising from the ashes of an earlier fire in a paddock.

The two fires on Saturday were about 100m apart and quickly brought under control.

Mr Davidson said embers could stay hot for many months and spark back into life.

"It's unbelievably dry out there and there's so much growth around everywhere."

Central Otago's principal Rural Fire Officer Owen Burgess said last week a total fire ban was likely to be imposed later this week.

The Clyde brigade was called out four times in 90 minutes on Saturday.

The first call was to Dunstan Hospital, where smoke was seen coming out of the boiler room.

"It was because a maintenance programme was being carried out, and there was no danger, no risk", Mr Davidson said.

 

 

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