Wanaka Fire Brigade members hose down a fire discovered by
landowner Ross Howie in a stand of pine trees alongside SH8
on Saturday. Photo by Matthew Haggart.
A fast reaction from landowner Ross Howie helped avert a
"potentially disastrous" fire from taking hold alongside State
Highway 8 on Saturday, a Wanaka Fire Brigade station officer
says.
Mr Howie was returning home from the Upper Clutha A and P
Show when he noticed smoke coming from within a dense stand
of pine trees next to SH8 between Wanaka and Luggate.
He turned into his driveway and saw a fire burning in trees,
about 40m away.
Mr Howie used a sack to try and fight the flames himself,
after first calling 111.
He tried to play down his actions, but was in the midst of
the fire when the brigade arrived at the scene.
Wanaka Fire Brigade station officer Warren Bates said Mr
Howie's actions had helped avert a potential disaster.
"It was bone dry in there and [there were] plenty of dead
trees and bush to fuel the fire.
"If there had been more wind, things could have been a whole
lot different," Mr Bates warned yesterday.
It was a "mystery" as to how the fire had started, he said.
The fire had started more than 30m away from the roadside,
which ruled out cigarette butts flicked from cars as a cause,
and was in the thick of the pine tree shelterbelt, he
explained.
Mr Howie said the area was often used by freedom campers and
campervans, although he not seen any recently.
Fire brigades across Otago are on high alert, with fire risk
levels at extreme levels.
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