Rubbish fire keeps crews busy

Firefighters dampen the last of the rubbish fire that spread into grass and scrub at Panguru on Sunday, while a chopper drops another monsoon bucket of water. Photo/Supplied

Firefighters from Kaitaia, Kohukohu and Ahipara responded to a blaze in long kikuyu and scrub at Panguru on Sunday afternoon.

Kaitaia station officer Craig Rogers said a rubbish fire was responsible for the call, with ground crews being reinforced by two helicopters. The ground crews were at the scene for about four hours before it was regarded as safe.

A Kaitaia appliance was also dispatched to an address in Donald Rd, Kaitaia, in the early hours of Sunday.

The initial report was that a house was burning but the fire was restricted to grass, a couple of trees and a fence.

The source of that fire appeared to be a fish smoker used the day before.

Meanwhile, emergency services from Ahipara, Kaitaia and Houhora travelled to the Hukatere area on Ninety Mile Beach on Saturday afternoon after two kayakers were reported to be in trouble, initially at Te Kohanga (Shipwreck Bay), then 4km north, then 40km north.

Kaitaia fire chief Colin Kitchen said the couple, who were well equipped, had become disconcerted by the roughening conditions, the man making it to the beach safely but the woman remaining out behind the breakers.

An Ahipara Surf Rescue crew couldn't find the woman until she was located by the rescue helicopter.

They took her on board and returned her, and her kayak, to the beach.