'Exceptional' arson levels challenge fire service

According to a report prepared for Masterton District Council, at least 10 and possibly as many as 18 rural fires in the district were arson.

The first five months of this year were a particularly challenging time for Wairarapa rural firefighters, a situation not helped by "an exceptional level of arson".

According to a report prepared for Masterton District Council by David Holmes, a director on the board of Wairarapa Rural Fire Service, at least 10 and possibly as many as 18 rural fires were arson and that - coupled with a spate of poor decision-making by some rural people - were behind the trying circumstances.

Mr Holmes said Principal Rural Fire Officer Phill Wishnowsky said January to May had tested his staff and systems to the maximum.

Apart from arson some fires had resulted from poor decisions and two major fires had meant help had to be called in from outside Wairarapa.

During 2012/13 there had been 345 notifications of incidents to 161 fires and 44 false alarms.

Just over 261ha had burned, made up of 237ha of plantation forest, 19ha of grassland and 4.7ha of scrub.

Although no homes were destroyed two farm sheds were lost as well as five commercial vehicles.

Mr Wishnowsky had reported six fires had resulted from 20 "powerline incidents" and fireworks had caused three fires.

Cost recovery on 18 fires had totalled $502,000 and the board expected $465,000 of that to be recovered.

On a financial level, Mr Holmes said results were "within budget" and final payment had been made on the new fire services building in Carterton.

Masterton District Council's yearly contribution to the service is $204,800, Carterton pays $83,900, South Wairarapa $177,700, Department of Conservation $13,460 and there is a grant from National Rural Fire Authority of $55,167.