Relaxed Guy Fawkes night for firefighters

People gather to watch a fireworks display at Westfield in Albany. Photo / Richard Robinson

The Fire Service had a relaxed Guy Fawkes night, with around 50 fireworks-related callouts on what is traditionally its busiest day of the year.

A northern a fire communications spokesman said firefighters had a "really quiet night", with only six callouts to incidents started by fireworks.

"And there was nothing serious, either - no structures or anything," he said.

A central communications spokesman said they had 45 callouts in total, with about half related to fireworks.

Around 20 small rubbish and scrub fires around the North Island were caused by Guy Fawkes celebrations.

In the South Island, only 11 of the callouts were due to fireworks, making for a very quiet night, a spokeswoman said.

A house fire just south of Timaru is thought to have been caused by fireworks.

Emergency services were called at 9pm and found the house on Main South Rd at St Andrews, well alight. It took five appliances to get the fire under control, but nobody was injured.

Fireworks also caused a sizeable scrub blaze on Marine Parade in New Brighton in Christchurch.

Usually, Guy Fawkes sees a steady stream of callouts, but Auckland Fire Service shift supervisor Steve Smith last night said the wet weather might have put people off.

People might also be waiting for the weekend to let off their fireworks, he said.

Huge numbers also turned out to organised fireworks shows around the country with an estimated 150,000 at the display on Wellington's waterfront and a big crowd at Albany on Auckland's North Shore.

Fireworks theft

Meanwhile, police were yesterday hunting thieves who stole $11,000 worth of fireworks from The Warehouse in Morrinsville in the Waikato. "We're talking about a considerable amount of stock being taken with three pallets of fireworks in pre-packaged containers missing," Constable John Grantham said. "Some of the product names include Megashot, Backyard Blast and Astro Blazer Mega Mix boxes."

Legislation introduced last year meant fireworks could be sold only from November 2 to 5, and buyers had to be 18 or older. "The concern for police is that whoever stole these fireworks may not be too worried about who they sell them to, with the potential for serious injury or damage," Mr Grantham said.

Police wanted to hear from anyone who was offered bargain-priced fireworks. "We'd like the only bang those responsible get from the theft of these fireworks is that of a slamming cell door."

- With NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB