Guy Fawkes sparks fire season

Police think a scrub fire in Little Shoal Bay Reserve, Northcote, on Saturday, may have been started by fireworks. Pictures / Dean Purcell

If the weekend is anything to go by firefighters will be getting little sleep this week in the build-up to Guy Fawkes night.

On Saturday Auckland firefighters were inundated with firework- related incidents - from crackers in letterboxes and rubbish bins to scrub fires.

At Birkenhead a large scrub fire tied up resources for more than 2 1/2 hours on the North Shore.

Forty firefighters from as far away as Otahuhu, were called to battle the Little Shoal Bay Reserve fire threatening several homes.

The blaze broke out moments after four teenagers were seen with firecrackers.

Although the fire did not reach homes, hectares of toi toi and wetland were scorched and police are now hunting the teens.

North Shore Chief Fire Officer Denis O'Donoghue said the reserve fire was just one of several at the weekend.

Mr O'Donoghue said the build-up to Guy Fawkes was always a busy time.

Volunteer brigades were on standby to help and school visits or safety inspections might be forgone if firefighters are tied up this week.

Mr O'Donoghue encouraged parents to talk to children about where and how they used firecrackers.

"I guess it comes down to adult supervision, letting crackers off in appropriate places and having things in place so if things do get out of hand you can deal with it."

Inspector Andrew Brill, from the Police Northern Communications Centre, said police were busy on Saturday dealing with more incidents of antisocial behaviour than usual, many of them involving fireworks.

Police also fielded many calls from people complaining about people letting off fireworks in the streets and other public places.

Fireworks facts

* This year 1700 tonnes of fireworks have been imported for sale, a 50 per cent increase on last year.

* The Fire Service has joined the SPCA in calling for a ban on all firework sales to the public.

* The Fire Service says the number of fires caused by fireworks has tripled over the past four years. Last year fireworks were blamed for 350 reported fires.