Rubbish fire came within a metre of ute, home in Kerikeri

Thursday afternoon's fire in suburban Kerikeri started from a 44-gallon drum used as an incinerator and came within a metre of a ute. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A fire that came within a metre of a ute and a few metres of a Kerikeri home was a blaze waiting to happen, the town's fire chief says.

The Kerikeri Fire Brigade was called to Kemp Rd, overlooking Kerikeri Basin, about 2pm on Thursday when a rubbish fire in a 44-gallon drum spread into garden shrubs and trees.

The occupant of the house tried to stop the flames spreading and protect his ute with a garden hose until firefighters arrived.

Fire chief Les Wasson said it was lucky firefighters were able to get there quickly, though congestion in the town centre saw some of them head directly to Kemp Rd instead of trying to reach the station first.

There was a huge amount of smoke when the brigade first arrived, he said.

Mr Wasson said it was a fire waiting to happen. A 44-gallon drum was used instead of a proper incinerator designed to catch embers, and the fire was lit on a hot day with a blustery 10-15 knot wind.

A restricted fire season has been in force across the Far North since the beginning of December and in Whangarei-Kaipara since December 22.