Otago Daily Times

Farm owner praises fire crews’ ‘fantastic’ response

- RICHARD DAVISON richard.davison@odt.co.nz

STRAW became tinder and bales briquettes during a South Otago paddock fire yesterday afternoon.

Firefighte­rs were called to the ‘‘extensive’’ blaze about 4pm, after a tractor making bales set straw stubble alight on the Whiteside farm about 4km southwest of Waiwera South.

Southern Baling Ltd driver Chad Cullen said he was just completing a bale when he saw flames emerge near the right hand tyre of the tractor.

He stopped the vehicle quickly, and attempted to extinguish the embryonic blaze with an onboard fire extinguish­er.

Unfortunat­ely, that proved ineffectiv­e.

‘‘In these conditions, once it starts, that’s it. Straw burns.’’

Mr Cullen was unharmed. Farm coowner Tom Whiteside, also present when the blaze started, praised the response of firefighte­rs in bringing the fire under control quickly.

‘‘We’ve had a fantastic response from the boys here and, as you can see, the farm has managed to avoid any significan­t losses thanks to their quick action.’’

About five bales had been lost, and there had been ‘‘minor’’ damage to a shelter belt. He estimated 1.5ha of stubble had been burnt.

An adjacent paddock had been cropped and burnt off last week, preventing a potentiall­y bigger fire and more serious financial losses.

‘‘It’s just a bit of good luck we got that out of the way. These things happen.’’

Firefighte­rs and tankers from Clinton, Waiwera South, Gore, Balclutha, Clutha Valley and Papatowai were summoned to the incident when it began.

A team including four appliances, three tankers and at least 15 firefighte­rs brought the blaze under control by about 4.25pm.

After a northwest breeze picked up, firefighte­rs remained on the scene to damp down the stillsmoul­dering tractor and several small bale fires until 6.30pm.

Waiwera South fire chief Maurice Walter said under windier conditions, the fire could have caused more extensive damage.

‘‘The tractor and baler were pretty well gone when we arrived, so we concentrat­ed on a hedge that had become involved near buildings. Those have been saved, fortunatel­y, so everything’s gone OK.’’

 ?? PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON ?? Down and out . . . Firefighte­rs stand by after extinguish­ing a tractor and stubble fire in a Waiwera South paddock yesterday.
PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISON Down and out . . . Firefighte­rs stand by after extinguish­ing a tractor and stubble fire in a Waiwera South paddock yesterday.

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