Scrub fires keep northern emergency services busy

File photo / NZ Herald

Scrub fires from Waikato to Northland endangered properties this afternoon and ensured emergency services were rushed off their feet.

Northern fire communications shift manager Paul Radder said the first scrub fire took place near the Mighty River dam in Mangakino, Waikato, around 1.30pm and threatened a nearby substation. The fire was approximately a hectare in size.

"That one had just been extinguished and the crews have come away."

The second fire occurred on Mangakahia Rd, approximately halfway between Dargaville and Kaikohe, just after 2.30pm.

"That peaked at approximately five hectares and endangered two houses. They protected the houses and have now contained the fire."

The Fire Service had also received multiple calls to what was believed to be a factory fire, but turned out to be several cars and tyres on fire at a car wreckers yard in Atkinson Ave in Otahuhu just before 4pm, Mr Radder said.

"And we're just on our way to another large scrub fire in Te Pahu in the Te Awamutu/Pirongia district. We've had a few calls to it - some are saying it's a few acres, others are saying the size of a football field, we're not sure yet."

There were no reports yet of any of the fires being suspicious, Mr Radder said.