Community service workers help extinguish fire

A group of people serving community works sentences had an unexpected job on Saturday, when a fire started near where they were working.

The 17 offenders were clearing tracks alongside a river when a fire started at a pony club in Puketapu, 14km west of Napier.

The fire was believed to have been started by a loose wire caused by a bird flying into a power line, community probation and psychological services Napier area manager Graham Wainwright said.

While the fire service was called immediately, the offenders got the fire under control, Mr Wainwright said.

One group put dirt on the fire to keep it down, and made sure it did not flare up again.

Another group went to the road to signal the fire service and open the gates to improve access.

Community work requires offenders to do unpaid work in the community for non-profit organisations as a way of making up for their offending.

- NZPA