Fire crews from south join northern fight

Fire crews from Canterbury have joined the fray at a persistent peat fire burning Far North conservation land.

The South Islanders are the latest group to bolster Northland Department of Conservation staff fighting the week-old blaze at Kaimaumau, north of Kaitaia.

They join DOC workers from Waikato, Wanganui, the East Coast, Auckland and Warkworth, and volunteers from rural fire parties.

Up to 80 firefighters a day have been working at Kaimaumau using heat probes, hand tools, heavy machinery and hoses to cool down the fire burning underground and prevent any hotspots flaring up.

The fire, which began last Wednesday, originated on private land and initially covered an area of 9ha. By Thursday it had spread into the neighbouring Lake Waikaramu conservation area and burnt 62ha before being contained by firefighters the next day.

DOC spokeswoman Carolyn Smith said some local workers had been at the fire for six or seven days in a week and the additional crews helped keep up efforts in difficult and dangerous conditions.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)