Blaze battle continued over two days
A scrub fire in Pahiatua took almost 24 hours to put out as firefighters battled the blaze along with two other fires.
Helicopters and were called in to help douse two of three scrub fires in Manawatu¯ and Whanganui that all broke out about 4pm on Tuesday.
Although the fires in Feilding and Whanganui were out by dusk, firefighters monitored the Makomako Rd fire in Pahiatua overnight and returned early yesterday to continue work on the smouldering remains of the fire.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand service spokesman said a helicopter was called in to help with the fire, which was finally fully extinguished about 3.45pm.
A helicopter was also sent to Feilding about 4.30pm on Tuesday when a rubbish fire on Colyton Rd got out of control.
Manawatu¯ deputy principal rural fire officer Bradley Shanks said the fire started in cut-down vegetation on a farm.
Shanks said he knew the fire would require a helicopter when he arrived at the scene.
‘‘I wouldn’t say it [the fire] was bad, it was just awkward.’’
A digger was also called in to turn over the piles of vegetation as they were drenched in water.
The fire was out by 10pm. Another scrub fire, this time near the Castlecliff Golf Club in Whanganui, broke out about 4.15pm on Tuesday.
Firefighters managed to extinguish it by 9pm.
The Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said it wasn’t uncommon for scrub fires to happen in such hot, dry whether.
Metservice expects Palmerston North to be as hot as 28 degrees Celsius today, with sunny weather predicted until into next week.
Shanks said there were seven large scrub fires in Manawatu¯ over the weekend, two requiring a helicopter.
Fire and Emergency NZ was in talks with councils to put fire restrictions in place by next week.
Usually, restrictions that required people to apply for a fire permit didn’t start until January, he said.
‘‘Those conversations are happening right now.’’