Fire-hit community picks up pieces
Wary eye on wind as locals assess damage
Residents near a bush fire south of Whitianga are struggling to come to terms with the damage it has done amid fears a change in wind direction could spread the blaze further.
The fire has so far ripped through 70 hectares of bush, scrub and four homes, as well as wiping out most of the Wilderland Sustainable Community settlement.
Although it rained yesterday, a change in wind direction prompted fears the fire could spread and the New Zealand Defence Force was called in to help battle the blaze at Comers Rd, Kaimarama.
Jani Dennis and Paul Lee yesterday returned to their Comers Rd home, which came perilously close to being des- troyed. Dennis couldn’t believe their luck, while Lee labelled it a “blessing” their home was unscathed. There were burnt-out trees about 20 metres from their door.
Lee’s former wife, Helen Lee, wasn’t so lucky. Her hilltop home is now a flattened mess of broken crockery, charred music sheets and crumpled appliances.
Her most treasured possession, an heirloom baby grand piano, has been reduced
Hto charcoal. Helen Lee said she was a resilient person who would bounce back.
The Defence Force announced yesterday it would deploy five experienced firefighters to the blaze at the request of the National Rural Fire Authority.
“We will do our best to assist the local community in Whitianga and hope that our firefighting crew will be able to help get the blaze under control soon.’
Thames Valley principal rural fire officer Peter Smith said an inch of rain in the next 10 days would be ideal to help firefighters.
In the meantime, the community has been rallying to support those affected.
Local Amy Hodge’s home has become a makeshift catering kitchen for pilots, firefighters and families, as volunteers from all over the North Island have travelled to lend a hand.
“We all come together and work together to get this all done so it makes the transition to this tragedy much easier for them all,” Hodge said.
Thames-Coromandel Mayor Sandra Goudie has set up an account for donations and Whitianga Social Services has also been offering support. For video from the residents go to nzherald.co.nz