Fire cuts power to homes
At 8pm fire crews battled a large scrub fire near the Ohaaki power station on Wednesday afternoon.
Power was isolated and cut from 560 homes while crews stopped the fire, approximately four hectares in size, from advancing.
By Wednesday night, the fire had stopped progressing and fire crews were working to put it out.
Unison relationships manager Danny Gough said under the request of the fire service they cut the power. However, it had been restored to all, but six customers.
‘‘We are assessing the damage done to poles but it does not look as bad as first thought.
They have been blackened but do not look damaged at this point.’’
The fire started on the south side, outside of the power station on Ohaaki Road at about 4pm, Fire Service assistant area commander Colin Russell said.
He said the fire developed quite rapidly, with a moderate westerly wind.
‘‘The fire travelled down towards Te Toke Rd, off Ohaaki Rd when we all arrived,’’ Russell said.
‘‘We had three helicopters, three tankers and four fire services from Taupo, Rotorua and Kinloch at the scene.’’
He said no properties in the area were under threat during the blaze but fire fighters found it ‘‘quite tough’’ in the hot, dry conditions.
‘‘We are assessing the damage done to poles but it does not look as bad as first thought’’