Bush fires keep crews busy

A helicopter with a monsoon bucket fights the blaze at South Head, north of Helensville. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Firefighters were kept busy with three bush fires yesterday, one which came dangerously close to engulfing a home and forestry block at South Head, north of Helensville.

The South Head blaze, which may have been caused by an unattended rubbish fire, broke out just before 11am on a property in Wilson Rd.

Firecrews arrived to find the property covered in thick smoke and called for monsoon buckets, fearing the wind-fuelled fire could destroy a home and quickly spread to forestry land 200m away.

The fire was first noticed by residents John and Nancy Limmer, who were collecting their mail when they spotted smoke coming from the bush that borders their property.

By the time Mr Limmer called the Fire Service the smoke had turned into a fast-moving fire that had jumped across a road and was approaching his own house.

Mr Limmer drove his car and bike away from the property and tried to hose his section but the fire became too strong and he was forced away.

Shelly Beach Chief Fire Officer Simon Shields said the fire was fuelled by strong winds, but they died down soon after the brigade arrived.

As 30 firefighters and two helicopters equipped with monsoon buckets brought the blaze under control, a second bush fire broke out on forestry land about 45km away in Riverhead.

One of the two helicopters and fire engines from Greenhithe dealt with the blaze.

The Riverhead blaze was smaller than the one at South Head, which burnt 1ha to 2ha of bush and tied up crews until the early evening.

At 2.30pm five fire engines and a helicopter with a monsoon bucket were called to the third bush fire of the day, a blaze covering about 3ha in Timperley Rd, Whangarei.

Fire Communications Centre shift manager Colin Underdown said it was unusual to have three bush fires on the same day.

Resources had been slightly stretched as a result of the South Head blaze.

Although the causes of the fires are yet to be determined, Mr Underdown said the strong winds might have played a role in how quickly they spread.