High winds could reignite scrub fire

Firefighters remained at the scene of a South Wairarapa coast scrub fire yesterday after worries that wind gusts of up to 90km/h would cause it to re-ignite.

Principal rural fire officer Phill Wishnowsky said a Department of Conservation crew was keeping watch over the charred, five hectare area, near the pinnacles yesterday and a crew had stayed there throughout the previous night.

Fire authorities were alerted to the blaze on Cape Palliser Rd just before 8am on Monday. The fire was caused by a broken power line.

Mr Wishnowsky said strong winds, gusting at about 90km/h, were a major concern.

"Things [could] turn from bad to worse.

"This wind is the conditions that would bring these hot spots up to the surface and cause it to flair up again, so we'll keep sitting on it for as long as we need to.

Mr Wishnowsky said there was a possibility of rain, which would be welcomed.

"There has been a suggestion that we might get some rain and obviously if we get some rain ... even better if we get some rain and the wind drops away, that will make it a lot easier for us.

"But while we've got the wind we've got at the moment we're nervous."

A helicopter, with monsoon bucket, remained on standby.