Coromandel fire: Crews continue fighting scrub blaze at Kūaotunu

A scrub fire at Kūaotunu. Photo / Fire and Emergency

A Coromandel scrub fire is expected to take several days to fully extinguish with firefighting conditions set to become more challenging, authorities say.

The fire at Kūaotunu, which started on Saturday, was under control and firefighters supported by helicopters were making steady progress strengthening containment lines on the flanks, an update from Fire and Emergency New Zealand said this afternoon.

“We have four ground crews working on the eastern and southern flanks and three helicopters are attacking the western flank, which is steep and inaccessible.

“Weather conditions were relatively favourable this morning but will be more challenging this afternoon and tomorrow, with higher temperatures, lower relative humidity and stronger winds,” Fire and Emergency said.

“Our specialist drone team will carry out thermal imaging flights tonight using infrared cameras to identify hotspots that firefighters will target tomorrow. We expect it will take several days to fully extinguish the fire.

“The safety of firefighters and the public remains our top priority.”

The scrub fire at Kūaotunu. Photo / Fire and Emergency

Access to Black Jack Road for residents and those with essential business continued to be under stop-go management and the walking track through the fire ground remained closed.

Crews returned to the fire this morning after being stood down on Sunday evening.

Incident controller Shane Bromley said the crews had done a great job on the fire on Sunday and it was now contained and under control.

Fire and Emergency reminded locals to not use the walking track that goes through the fire ground (shown in the yellow dotted line in the map).

People should not use the walking track that goes through the fire ground.

Four ground crew and three helicopters battled the fire on Sunday while Black Jack Rd remained closed.

“While flames aren’t visible to the public, the fire is still smouldering,” Bromley said.

There have been no evacuations due to the fire, which is estimated at a size of about 600m by 600m. A strong southerly wind is blowing smoke from the fire out to sea.

Fire and Emergency NZ firefighters battling a vegetation fire on Black Jack Road, Kūaotunu in the Coromandel Peninsula. Photo / Coromandel's CFM, Supplied.

“At this stage, it is not known how the fire started,” Bromley said.

Fire and Emergency said an investigation will take place to determine the cause.