At risk: Warnings after Ahipara fire destroys bush
It’s only a matter of time before homes or even lives are lost at Ahipara unless locals grasp the danger they are in, Northland’s rural fire boss says. A huge wildfire tore through almost 60ha of scrub and native bush and forced the evacuation of up to 100 homes yesterday, but none were destroyed, thanks to firefighters who stayed on guard throughout Tuesday night.
Some evacuees were allowed home around 11.30am yesterday but others had to wait because increasing wind and temperatures made the risk of a flare-up too great.
Northland principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor, who had just that day imposed a total fire ban, was visibly frustrated.
“This is the third year in a row we’ve been here. This is the third year we’ve evacuated houses. This can’t keep happening. At some stage we are going to lose properties or even lives. The community needs to understand the risk they are in.”
Previous wildfires have been caused by people burning rubbish, often in breach of fire restrictions.
The fire started about 5.45pm on Tuesday in the Gumfields Historic Reserve on the ridge above town.
Volunteer firefighters came from every corner of the Far North, backed by six helicopters filling monsoon buckets from the sea.
Tessa Pohio, holidaying from Auckland with 20 friends and wha¯nau, was among those who had to flee, leaving behind a dinner of crayfish, kahawai and lamb.
A line of flame was advancing down the hillside and ash was falling around the house, she said.
Phelan Pirrie, a Muriwai firefighter holidaying in Ahipara, said flames were 10m-plus high. “When the scrub gets to a certain temperature it goes white-hot and explodes. The sound is like a jet engine. We had a few fire tornadoes going on too. It was insane.”
Ahipara Rugby Club provided shelter, food and cups of tea to up to 50 at a time.
Long-time club member Jaqi Brown knew people would need help as soon as she saw the fire.
“I saw it licking over the hill and I thought, ‘ There’s people who aren’t going to be able to get home tonight’.”
Volunteers turned out to help and the Salvation Army, Te Rarawa and others donated kai.
More than 70 people spent the night at Roma Marae.
The helicopters got back to work around 5.30am.
By 9am incident controller Rory Renwick said the blaze had covered 56ha but was 95 per cent contained.
About 40 people — Fire and Emergency NZ, forestry and DOC crews — were fighting the flames on the ground.
At 11.30am Foreshore Rd was partly reopened and Tasman Heights residents were allowed to return home.
Others, however, were still waiting last night.
With wind and temperatures expected to rise late yesterday there was a chance of extreme fire behaviour, which would be impossible to control, Renwick said.
Firefighters were likely to be “chasing hot spots” for several days.
He urged anyone with information about how the fire started to call police on 105 or FENZ on ( 09) 486 7949.
Far North Mayor John Carter praised the firefighters’ efforts and said the blaze showed how dangerously dry Northland was.