Fire prompts warning
Firefighters are warning the public to check old fires are out after strong winds reignited a burnoff in a Catlins forestry block yesterday.
The warning has come ahead of the weekend, with MetService predicting that Southland could be hit with strong winds again tomorrow.
Yesterday, firefighters were alerted to a fire in a forestry block between Waipapa Point and Haldane off the Otara-Haldane Rd about 8.30am.
Fire and Emergency deputy rural fire officer Timo Bierlin said the fire was burning out of control when firefighters arrived and four helicopters were called to help battle the blaze.
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control quickly.
The forestry block was approximately 25 hectares, half of which had been harvested.
The fire started from an old burnoff in a section that had been cut, Bierlin said.
High winds had reignited old embers and the fire spread rapidly, he said.
Five hectares of pine trees about 20 years old had been burnt, Bierlin said.
Firefighters had not entered the trees to battle the fire because it was unsafe in the high wind, he said.
Bierlin expected crews would continue to work all day yesterday and return today to dampen down hot spots.
While the fire was out of control, it was expected to stay within the forestry block, Bierlin said, and there was no threat to any other properties.
About 25 firefighters were involved on the ground from the Tokanui, Hedgehope, Waikawa Bay and Waimahaka brigades, with an Invercargill team taking gear out to the scene.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand community and engagement co-ordinator Sally Chesterfield issued a warning that there would be high fire danger this weekend.
People were urged to check any fires they may have had in the past month to ensure they were out, Chesterfield said.
People should also avoid lighting any new fires.
Anybody who had lit big fires recently should dig around in the remains to make sure it was completely out because the high winds could pick up any embers, she said.
Southland was in an open fire season, which meant people could light fires without a permit.
At the same time last year, Southland was under a total fire ban.
Firefighters had considered putting a fire restriction in place before Christmas but vegetation throughout Southland was looking green, Chesterfield said.
If Southland received consistent rain the fire danger would remain low.
However, if the warm and dry weather continued fire restrictions would be put into place.
MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said the weather outlook for the weekend showed there could be northwesterly gales over Southland becoming severe.
A weather watch could be put in place closer to the weekend, Flynn said.
Tomorrow was expected to be hot and dry with a temperature high of 27 degrees Celsius. Southwesterly winds would come through overnight tomorrow bringing some rain, Flynn said.
Sunday was expected to be cooler with a temperature high of 19C, she said.