High winds fuel island fire

Nelson firefighters called in to help contain a Great Barrier Island fire have faced long hours and flare-ups caused by high winds.

The fire has burned more than 115 hectares near the settlement of Claris since it began on Tuesday, with 45 firefighters from across the country working to contain it.

A navy vessel also arrived yesterday to help contain the fire.

On Wednesday a group of five Nelson firefighters flew up to the island to help.

Speaking yesterday afternoon, Richmond fire officer Peter Hen- derson said the crew had spent about 13 hours on Thursday fighting the fire, and had expected to be there for about the same amount of time yesterday.

The fire had flared up in some places on Thursday because of hot weather and winds, with hot spots throughout the area where the main fire had burned on Tuesday.

Fire breaks had been erected to try to manage the fire, but they were not everywhere, he said.

‘‘We have just been trying to secure the most dangerous edges. We got a fair bit done.’’

He had been based in two main areas, on the main road at an area without fire breaks, and on the north perimeter.

‘‘[Great Barrier] has a lack of resources because it’s an isolated place. There were two choppers working on Thursday, one on Friday. A few more yesterday would have been good.’’

This was not the first time he had flown in to help with a fire – he had flown to help with fires in Victoria, Australia in recent years.

‘‘The work’s all the same: dirty, not glamorous, often boring, long days,’’ he said.