Firefighters battle a controlled burn that got out of control in plantation slash just east of the Hakataramea township yesterday. Photo by David Bruce.
The permitted burn in tree waste from a harvested plantation was started yesterday morning but spread when a northwest wind sprang up unexpectedly.
Waitaki rural fire parties and brigades from Glenavy, Duntroon, Kurow and Otematata were called out just before midday and, helped by volunteers, had the fire under control by about 2pm.
Three tankers took water from the Hakataramea River.
A digger was called in about 3.30pm to turn over piles of slash to help firefighters get at hotspots.
Kurow deputy chief fire officer Richard Nehoff expected it would take at least four hours to dampen these down.
Firefighters had to wear breathing apparatus to move around once the fire was controlled.
