A 20-hectare scrub fire is burning swampland in North Waikato.
The fire, which appears to have started on private land before spreading, is contained but not controlled and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) has placed firetrucks at three homes as a precaution.
They are expected to be at the scene overnight.
Firefighters were alerted to the fire off Island Block Rd about 1.15pm.
Fenz incident commander Shane Bromley said four fire trucks, five tankers, and two helicopters are responding to the fire, with another helicopter on its way.
”The fire is semi-contained but not controlled and we’ve put fire trucks in place to protect three houses as a precaution,” Bromley said.
”We are also working to protect the nearby Whangamarino Wetland and expect to have a crew at the fire ground overnight.”
Fenz will provide another update at 7pm tonight.
On a private community page nearby, residents posted seeing a “gigantic fire” over Island Block Rd.
Around 4pm, another nearby resident said it didn’t look like the fire was under control yet.
The area around Island Block Rd has a low fire danger rating, according to the Fenz website. The lighting of fires in the area is currently allowed without a permit.
Police said Fenz had notified them about the fire around 2.40pm but police assistance was not required.
The Department of Conservation (DoC) said staff were aware of the fire.
“The fire appears to have started on private land but has now moved to conservation land.”
“Fenz are responsible for the fire management, but we are providing support and advice re conservation values of the wetland.
“Fenz have advised the fire is to be managed aerially only at this stage and we are not involved in this.”
According to DoC’s website Whangamarino Wetland is a 7000-hectare mosaic of swamps, fens and peat bogs.
More to come.
Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne.
Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.
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