Controlled burn source of scrub fire

A lifestyle block owner whose controlled burn sparked a blaze in a gully near Dunedin yesterday has thanked firefighters and a helicopter pilot for their swift response in containing the fire.

Plumes of smoke began billowing about 2pm from the lifestyle block in Kuri Bush, after an ember from a permitted burn drifted to the steep side of a gully and set gorse and grass ablaze.

A helicopter douses a grass and gorse fire near Taieri Mouth yesterday. Photo: Gregor Richardson
A helicopter douses a grass and gorse fire near Taieri Mouth yesterday. Photo: Gregor Richardson
Fire crews raced to the scene and upon arrival radioed to request help from a helicopter with a monsoon bucket.

A helicopter douses a grass and gorse fire near Taieri Mouth yesterday. Photo: Gregor RichardsonAn Otago Helicopters aircraft with a monsoon bucket was dispatched to the lifestyle block, near the corner of Taieri Mouth Rd and Otokia-Kuri Bush Rd.

On arrival, it gathered seawater from Taieri Mouth before flying above the rolling farmland to douse the flames as they crept up the gully towards a paddock.

It was the first of many passes, as a rural fire tanker worked with a hose reel on the ground.

After about an hour the fire was well contained within its 300m perimeter,

Over the next few hours the fire was mopped up with the help of earthmoving equipment.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift supervisor Brent Dunn said crews from Waihola, Brighton, St Kilda, Lookout Point and the Wakari Voluntary Rural Fire Force helped tackle the blaze.

One of the owners of the lifestyle block, who had owned the property for about three and a-half years and requested anonymity, said they were burning off ''very small piles'' of shrubbery.

They had a fire permit and believed the day would be suitable for a burn-off, as it was nearly windless.

''We had very small piles, we rake the grass away from the edges, we have a fire permit.

''We are very careful ... and this is just unusual.

''Many thanks to all fire crew.''

No property was damaged, and a small orchard also escaped unscathed.

There is a total ban in lighting fires in Central Otago (including Wanaka, Otematata, Ranfurly, Cromwell, Alexandra, and surrounding areas), and fires are by permit only in the Lake zone (including Queenstown), along with Clutha, Catlins and Coastal Otago.

Fires are by permit only in Southland.

george.block@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement