MT WELLINGTON FIRE

One person was injured after a house in Mt Wellington burst into flames on October 7. Fire fighters were alerted to the Panorama Rd fire at 2.30pm. Three fire trucks and their crews worked on the ‘‘seriously damaged’’ house. An ambulance was also called to the scene to treat a person for smoke inhalation, a fire and emergency spokesman said. Fire investigators had yet to determine the cause of the fire and were still investigating.

HARBOUR BRIDGE

The Auckland harbour bridge will soon be casting its light far and wide. Work has progressed on installing 90,000 solar powered LED lights, with about 30,000 installed so far. Once completed the lights will transform the bridge for lighting displays. It will also mean the bridge will be the first in the world to have all its lighting - operational, structural and special event - powered entirely by solar-stored energy. More than 630 solar panels will be installed as well as a large scale battery to store the energy. Crews have been battling the wet and windy spring weather conditions to install lights on each girder underneath the kilometrelong bridge. Details of the launch event will be announced by Auckland Council and Vector in November. The battery and solar panels will be in Wynyard Quarter.

SAFER SWIMMING

Aucklanders will be able to check whether it is safe to swim before heading to the beach this summer. In a country first, Auckland Council has developed a water quality forecasting programme which provides realtime information about water safety and quality together with public health alerts at 84 of Auckland’s beaches. Water quality, tide times, rips, wind direction, wind speed and much more can all be checked before a day at the beach. At Mission Bay a digital sign displaying water quality and safety advice will be trialled for the summer season. Mayor Phil Goff said it was important for Aucklanders to be able to make informed decisions about where and when to swim. Head to safeswim.org.nz for more information on conditions at beaches.