Key Takeaways
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) crews responded to 11 vegetation fires across Canterbury over the weekend, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds.
- The fires varied in size and complexity, but all were contained and extinguished by FENZ crews.
- A fire in North Canterbury required a significant response, with 20 trucks, a command unit, and three helicopters on scene.
- FENZ also responded to fires in Nelson and Hawke’s Bay, with crews working to extinguish the fires and manage the effects of windy conditions.
Introduction to the Weekend’s Fires
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews from across Canterbury were kept busy over the weekend by vegetation fires, fanned by the weekend’s high temperatures and strong winds. Canterbury Fire and Emergency said online that its crews fought 11 vegetation fires across the district. The fires were of varying sizes and complexities, but all of the crews worked together to ensure they were all contained and extinguished. This effort required a significant amount of resources, with firefighters working tirelessly to prevent the fires from spreading.
The North Canterbury Fire
One of the fires in the North Canterbury settlement of Rotherham proved to be particularly challenging. At its peak, FENZ said there were 20 trucks, a command unit, and three helicopters on scene. The fire required a significant response, with crews working to extinguish the fire and manage the effects of windy conditions. Despite the challenges, FENZ crews were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading. However, firefighters were still attempting to extinguish hotspots at the fire on Monday morning. The fire was one of several that broke out over the weekend, and FENZ crews had to redeploy aircraft to fires that had started in Cheviot and Kaikoura.
Fires in Nelson and Hawke’s Bay
In addition to the fires in Canterbury, FENZ also responded to fires in Nelson and Hawke’s Bay. In Nelson, a fire broke out at Tahunanui Beach, with smouldering vegetation seen by 1News. The fire was estimated to cover around 250 square metres, and crews from Nelson, Stoke, Appleby, and Hira attended the scene. The fire was relatively contained, but conditions were still quite windy in the area, which made it challenging for firefighters to fully extinguish the fire. In Hawke’s Bay, a fire broke out on Waitara Rd, northwest of Napier, with around 45 FENZ and forestry workers fighting the approximately 22ha fire. The fire was largely contained within Pan Pac forest and Department of Conservation native bush.
Response Efforts
FENZ crews worked closely with their forestry and DOC partners to respond to the fires. In Hawke’s Bay, one digger was also operating in the area to help contain the fire. FENZ said that they were continuing to work closely with their partners to manage the effects of the fires and prevent them from spreading. The response efforts were successful in containing the fires, and FENZ crews were able to extinguish the fires and manage the effects of windy conditions. The public was also thanked for heeding FENZ’s advice not to light fires over the weekend, which helped to prevent the fires from spreading.
Conclusion
The weekend’s fires were a significant challenge for FENZ crews, but they were able to respond effectively and contain the fires. The fires were fueled by high temperatures and strong winds, but FENZ crews worked tirelessly to prevent them from spreading. The response efforts were successful, and FENZ crews were able to extinguish the fires and manage the effects of windy conditions. The public’s cooperation in heeding FENZ’s advice not to light fires over the weekend also helped to prevent the fires from spreading. Overall, the weekend’s fires were a significant challenge, but FENZ crews were able to respond effectively and keep the community safe.
