North Waikato scrub fire: Smoke expected to move across the Coromandel

Smoke from a 1024-ha fire burning through vegetation near Meremere, Waikato, is expected to move up and across Coromandel as firefighting efforts continue for a third day.

Thames Coromandel District Council civil defence controller Garry Towler told CFM winds were changing direction this afternoon causing smoke density to increase in Thames.

Towler said the smoke was moving up and across the Coromandel and advised residents to close windows and doors.

Meanwhile, Fire and Emergency NZ incident controller Mark Tinworth said the fire “has not grown significantly in size” today.

“It sits at 1024ha with a 15km perimeter as at 3pm,” Tinworth said.

Tinworth said Fenz crews’ “solid progress” fighting the fire was largely thanks to the help of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

The fire now has a perimeter of 11km and has burned through more than 520ha in the Island Block area. Photo / Malisha Kumar

“The aircraft have been doing great work to slow the spread of the fire while the ground crews have been getting that containment line in so we can get this fire stopped in its tracks,” Tinworth said.

“It’s hard work for our crews, and I want to thank them for all their efforts throughout the day.”

Tinworth said firefighters were aware there was “some anxiety” in the community about the fire and the large amount of smoke in the area.

“I just want to reassure people that we have your safety as our top priority.”

“While we don’t expect anyone to be in any danger during this incident, we will let you know if there is any danger to you or your property well ahead of time.”

Earlier today, Fenz called on members of the public not to fly drones anywhere near the 15km wide fire ground near Meremere.

The call came after a drone sighting in the area of the fire forced Fenz to halt all air operations for a short time this afternoon.

Incident controller Mark Tinworth said this was standard practice because drones are a serious threat to aircraft.

“A mid-air collision between a drone and a helicopter could have fatal consequences,” Tinworth said.

“Members of the public must not fly drones anywhere near the fireground.

“This impacted our ability to fight this fire as air operations have been our main avenue for suppression of the fire.”

Six helicopters have been working together to control the slow burning scrub fire near Meremere. Photo / Maryana Garcia

Tinworth said the drone was quickly grounded and air operations were able to resume after a break of around 10 minutes.

The North Waikato scrub fire has continued to grow, burning through 1000ha since it started on Monday afternoon.

Firefighters have started the third day of fighting the large vegetation fire near Meremere, which includes the Whangamarino wetlands.

Tinworth said the fire could “take some days” to bring under control.

“Peat fires are particularly challenging, as they can continue to burn underground and can be hard to find and extinguish.”

Tinworth said there were more than 50 Fenz personnel involved in the firefighting operation, supported by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Fire investigators are on the scene, but the origin and cause of the fire have not yet been confirmed.

“There is a lot of smoke in the area, so we’re advising local people to keep windows and doors closed, and to avoid the area altogether if possible.”

Yesterday, Fenz closed Island Block Rd to all except emergency vehicles and residents.

Tinworth said residents with a roof water supply should disconnect the pipe to the tank if there was a lot of ash and debris on their roof.

The Whangamarino wetland is a Department of Conservation area of environmental significance.

“We’re working really hard to contain it as quickly as possible, but we are expecting it to take another day or so to bring it under control,” Tinworth said.

“This is a really beautiful part of the country with considerable environmental value, and we’re doing our best to prevent it from being destroyed.”

Water for the fire trucks and helicopter buckets was temporarily sourced from a reticulated supply but was now being drawn from a farm pond.

Six helicopters have been working together to control the slow burning scrub fire near Meremere. Photo / Maryana Garcia

Firefighters advise Rocket Lab and Orica facilities as smoke affects Maramarua

Tinworth said yesterday Fenz was working with businesses, including a Rocket Lab test facility, to make sure they had plans in place for removing any dangerous material if the fire got too close to those locations.

A Rocket Lab spokesperson said the company operated a small facility in Waikato for “test operations”.

“We have been advised by Fenz that the fire does not pose a threat to our operations currently.”

“The wind is blowing in the opposite direction to our site at this stage and that’s not expected to change.

Photo taken at around 9pm of the scrub fire in the Meremere Village. Photo / Amanda Jane Kashyap

“We’ll continue to follow the advice of Fenz as they work to extinguish the blaze.”

According to Rocket Lab’s website, the company’s Waikato location is “home to Rutherford engine testing and supports other [research and development] propulsion and technology development”.

Orica, a commercial explosives and blasting solutions company, also has facilities in the area.

In a statement, an Orica spokesperson said the company was “closely monitoring the fire”.

“At this stage, there is no risk to our facility, which houses critical products for the mining and civil infrastructure industries in New Zealand.

“Our priority is the safety of our people and the communities in which we operate, and we take a rigorous, best-practice approach towards safety.”

The fire is being fought from the ground and air. Photo / Malisha Kumar

The spokesperson said Orica would continue to work closely with relevant authorities.

One Maramarua resident told the Waikato Herald there was “quite a lot of smoke” in the air.

”You can see the ashes on our car.”

She said she had to pick up her grandson from school after midday because of the smoke.

”It’s been huge. It is huge.”

Another resident said the fire had grown overnight.

”The sky was bright orange,” she said. ”It just looks out of control.”

More to come.

Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne.

Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.