Rubbish fire at Waipapakauri despite total ban

A police officer silhouetted against smoke obliterating SH1.

Robin Billington couldn't believe his eyes when he drove along the Waipapakauri Straight on Friday afternoon and saw smoke.

The Rangiputa Volunteer Fire Brigade CFO had spent much of his day distributing fire ban stickers, and was flabbergasted that, despite the dry conditions and all the publicity, someone had struck a match.

The rubbish fire, on the Waipapakauri Domain, quickly spread into grass and roadside vegetation, casting a pall of smoke across State Highway 1. Police diverted northbound traffic around the Domain and on to Matich Road, but most southbound vehicles ploughed through the smoke.

Mr Billington said the fire, which he had no doubt had been deliberately lit, had just started when he called it in, but it was well away by the time an appliance and a water tanker (which took water from the creek adjacent to the hotel) arrived from Kaitaia.

"It just took off," he said.

"People simply shouldn't be lighting fires. There are enough signs around the place, pointing out that there is a total fire ban. There are 17 signs on the Karikari Peninsula alone, and they are all the way north from Awanui."

The total year-round fire ban applying to the Aupouri Peninsula starts on the northern edge of Awanui, four or five kilometres to the south.

Mr Billington was aware that accounts had been sent to some individuals to recoup the costs of fighting fires, but believed the time had come for someone to get a bill that would bankrupt them.

"Perhaps when that happens people will get the message," he said.