Orchard fire precipitates power cuts

Waipa¯ Networks technicians had to deal with multiple outages north of Te Awamutu last Thursday morning after a shelterbelt came into contact with power lines, causing sparks, and igniting a fire.

The Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to the fire in foliage at a kiwifruit orchard in Greenhill Drive about 9am by residents and nearby workmen.

They arrived to find power lines down across the orchard and had to wait until Waipa¯ Networks was able to isolate the supply and ensure nothing was live.

Firefighters then attacked the shelterbelt from both sides using a foam mixture. Workers on building sites nearby said they heard the bang and witnessed flames shooting about 100m across the top of the kiwifruit orchard from the shelterbelt to another power pole.

Smoke then started to come from the orchard as the shelterbelt caught fire.

A Waipa Networks spokesperson said the resulting outage covered a large area from the north end of Te Awamutu to Ohaupo .

Technicians were able to restore some customers relatively quickly by redirecting the supply, but a significant area remained without power until about 3pm.

Photo / Dean Taylor Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade had to relay water to a fire in a kiwifruit orchard shelterbelt off Greenhill Drive last Thursday morning.

Photo / Dean Taylor Firefighters apply foam mixture to extinguish a shelterbelt fire.