At its height, the fire closed SH12, forced the evacuation of at least a dozen homes and cast a thick pall of smoke over the Ngawha area. Photo / Peter de Graaf
At its height, the fire closed SH12, forced the evacuation of at least a dozen homes and cast a thick pall of smoke over the Ngawha area. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Firefighters remain at the scene of a major blaze which came within metres of destroying a home, forced the evacuation of at least a dozen properties, and closed a state highway for several hours.
Fire authorities are still investigating but believe it was caused by what they describe as "an act of blatant stupidity".
The fire started about 12.40pm yesterday in scrub next to a pine forest and behind a row of about 20 homes along State Highway 12, next to Kaikohe cemetery and just west of Ngawha.
The highway was closed at Ohaeawai, with a second road block at Ngawha Springs Rd, and at Te Pua Rd just outside Kaikohe.
Evacuee Len Beckham and mokopuna Tiari Thompson, 7, wait to be allowed back home. About 10 grandchildren were visiting when the fire started.
Police told residents closest to the fire to leave their homes and remove their vehicles. Most gathered on a hilltop near the cemetery to wait nervously as four helicopters, filling their monsoon buckets from farm dams and effluent ponds, dumped load after load of water on the flames.
At its height, the fire was just 10m from the home of elderly resident Ed Wihongi. He was not home but his dog and cattle were. A fire appliance was stationed next to his home to protect it.
Tracey Albert was playing the part of Santa at an Ohaeawai-Taiamai Residents Association Christmas party when a cousin texted her, asking if she liked her steak barbecued. He advised her to go home to rescue her horse, which was in a paddock behind the family homestead.
Ms Albert ditched her Santa costume and raced home but was not allowed on to the property. Fortunately, her horse, which was cowering in the corner furthest from the fire, appeared unharmed.
Fire chiefs Bill Hutchinson (Kaikohe, left) and Andrew Graham (Okaihau) keep an eye on the fire.
Cynthia Stevens was one of many residents who called 111 and said she was very worried. "Anyone would be," she said. Her house was full of memories - she had lived there 60 years - and it had just been reroofed.
Another resident said he heard a loud whoosh, like a skyrocket going off, just before the fire started.
A man, who did not want to be named, said he had been accused of letting off a flare. He believed the fire had been started by a lightning strike.
About 3.20pm, a 12-tonne bulldozer arrived and started carving out a firebreak behind the houses, aided by two diggers. Around 4pm, the fire was contained and three of the four helicopters were stood down.
Northern principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor said it could be days before the fire was fully under control.
Firefighters would stay at the scene overnight and spend the next few days mopping up and extinguishing hot spots.
An investigation was continuing but it appeared the fire was the result of a "blatant act of stupidity".
It was fortunate the wind was blowing towards the road and not towards Ngawha Prison, where it could have forced a major evacuation.
Among those keeping an eye on the fire was a group of Corrections staff.
Mr Taylor said the fire covered an area of about 6ha. Only about 0.5ha of pine forest was lost thanks to the efforts of the helicopter crews from Paihia and Whangarei. The choppers were aided on the ground by Kaikohe, Okaihau and Kerikeri fire brigades, as well as Kaikohe rural firefighters.
