A quick response by Alexandra firefighters averted potential disaster yesterday afternoon as an apparently deliberately-lit fire in "tinder-dry'' conditions, fanned by winds, headed towards homes.
Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade senior firefighter Mark Templeton said a strong easterly wind was blowing and the fire, under trees near the Clutha River, along from the Dunorling St boat ramp, was moving towards homes.
"There's no obvious signs of how it started, so we assume someone deliberately lit it, which is dangerous when conditions are still tinder-dry. It could've had disastrous consequences,'' he said.
"It was lucky we were able to bring it under control before it raced up the stopbank. Fire speeds up a lot once it gets to a slope like that, so then it would been moving much faster and wouldn't have had far to travel across more dry vegetation to get to homes.''
The fire burnt a patch about 5m by 5m.
Several holiday-makers were picnicking in the nearby park and using the boat ramp and the Fire Service received "multiple'' emergency calls about the blaze, soon after noon, Mr Templeton said.
"It was great that people didn't hesitate. Obviously, a lot of people noticed it at the same time and called in at the first sign of smoke, which was excellent.''
Two Alexandra fire crews and a rural fire tanker crew from the Otago Rural Fire Authority dealt with the fire.
About 20 to 30 people stood on the stopbank watching the action, but Mr Templeton later pointed out it was not the wisest vantage point.
"From a fire safety point of view, we'd remind people not to get between the fire and the way it wanted to go.
"If the fire had reached the slope, it would've travelled very quickly.''
Anyone with information about the cause of the fire is asked to contact Alexandra police.
