Drones join helicopters, firefighters to battle Coromandel blaze

By RNZ

Drones with thermal imaging equipment will survey the Black Jack fireground on the Coromandel Peninsula on Monday night to identify pockets of fire still burning.

Firefighters have been battling strong winds and steep terrain to fight the fire at Kūaotunu, which broke out on Saturday.

It was under control by Sunday, and Fire and Emergency controller Shane Bromley said crews were making steady progress extinguishing the wildfire. But it would likely take a few more days work in “arduous conditions, working on steep slopes in high temperatures”.

The drone footage, gathered by Fire and Emergency’s specialist drone crew, would be used to target ground and air operations on Tuesday.

A helicopter involved in battling a vegetation fire on Black Jack Rd, Kūaotunu in the Coromandel Peninsula. Photo / Coromandel's CFM

It was also hoped Black Jack Rd would be opened to residents on Monday night, once fire crews had wrapped up, and stop-go traffic management would resume in the morning.

Four fire crews supported by three helicopters were at work on the vegetation fire on Monday.

The fire had not grown overnight, but while conditions were calm on Monday morning, the winds were forecast to pick up during the day.

Bromley said on Monday morning three helicopters would provide an air attack that would focus on the western flank of the fire, on steep and inaccessible terrain. While the ground crews would continue work mopping up hotspots on the eastern and southern fronts.

The walking track in the area remained closed.

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