North fire cuts power to 30,000
Crews contain blaze after it approaches transmission lines, threatens homes and engulfs pine plantation
Ascrub fire which triggered power cuts to thousands of homes in Northland for several hours yesterday was still burning last night. The fire broke out under the main Northland power lines at about 4.30pm near Holland Rd, Springfield, south of the Whangarei Harbour. It could seen from many areas of Whangarei and was being monitored overnight by a rural fire crew.
More crews will be back this morning.
Transpower’s corporate communications manager, Rebecca Wilson, said the state-owned power transmission company had switched off the 110,000 volt lines near the fire as a precautionary measure.
She estimated that around 30,000 households, businesses and other power “connections” in Northland were without mains electricity for several hours.
The 110,000 volt network was removed from service to ensure the safety of those fighting the fire.
Otaika Valley woman Swati Kapoor was swimming at Uretiti Beach when she and other family members noticed the fire.
They watched from a few kilometres away as a pine plantation was engulfed and flames reached 9m to 15m in the air but were forced to move away as ash began to fall on them.
“It was very scary and dramatic . . . we had ash dropping on us like rain and we saw the firefighters evacuating all the houses.”
By 7pm Transpower managed to restore power to some areas in Maungataupere and Kaikohe due to the “back feeding” of electricity through parts of the transmission network unaffected by the fire. All affected consumers had power restored by 8pm.
Nearly 50 firefighters from 12 fire engines and three helicopters were called in to battle the blaze which covered more than 3ha.
Some homes were originally in danger and police urged motorists to take care as traffic lights were also cut, along with phone coverage in many parts of Northland.
By 7.30pm Fire Service shift mana- ger Megan Ruru said homes were no longer in danger from the fire.
“The fire isn’t controlled, but it’s not going to threaten anything. ”
She said three helicopters were being used but were trying to estab- lish another water supply.
“They were using the water from the sea but because the tide is going out it’s getting further to go out,” Ruru said.
MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said it had been dry in the Whangarei area yesterday with light winds and a temperature of 26.4C just before the fire started. Light winds and a high of 29C was predicted for today.