Big bill likely after fire-ban breach

A fire at Okaihau's Lake Rd started when a rubbish fire in a shopping trolley spread into surrounding scrub. Photo / Debbie Beadle

One person is likely to face prosecution and others face hefty bills after four Far North fires in less than 48 hours.

The biggest blaze, near Omanaia in South Hokianga, burned about 3ha of scrub and native bush on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire, on a bush-clad hillside, could not be reached by ground crews so was extinguished by a helicopter using a monsoon bucket.

Northern principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor said the blaze appeared to be an "accidental escape" rather than malicious.

There were no fire restrictions in the area as yet so the fire-starter would not be prosecuted, but he would have to pay the firefighting costs, which were likely to be substantial. Operating a helicopter costs at least $2000 an hour.

Another fire - at Okaihau's Lake Rd about 5.45pm on Tuesday - was the result of a "silly" person burning rubbish in a supermarket trolley and not paying attention to the conditions. The fire spread to about half a hectare of grass and scrub and threatened a home.

"If we'd had the same wind we had the day before the house itself would've been at risk," Mr Taylor said.

Another fire, at Kaeo's Omaunu Rd at about 2.45pm on Tuesday, was started by children playing with fire in long grass.

A Karikari resident thought to be responsible for a fire on Monday afternoon was likely to be prosecuted as well as billed for firefighting costs because the Karikari Peninsula, the Aupouri Peninsula and other areas north of State Highway 10 are subject to year-round fire restrictions. The man did not have a permit when he lit a fire in an attempt at clearing land. Firefighters from Karikari and Rangiputa rural fire parties and the Mangonui Fire Brigade spent two hours making sure the blaze did not spread into a large area of manuka. "If it had got away on us, it would have been huge."

A fire at the Karikari Peninsula on November 30, 2011 burned hundreds of hectares and led to the deaths of Kerikeri pilot John "Prickles" de Ridder, 69, and Department of Conservation ranger William Macrae, 54, of Awanui. The pair were on a fire reconnaissance flight when their helicopter crashed off the Karikari Peninsula.