Volunteer fire brigade ignites interest

Mark McCarthy captured the spectacle from a small plane flying over Greenhithe. Photo / Supplied

Firefighters simply watched as a house burned down to the ground in Auckland on Saturday.

In a reversal of roles, this time it was the Fire Service that started the blaze.

The wooden bungalow on Rame Rd had been gifted to the Greenhithe Volunteer Fire Brigade which intentionally set it on fire and used it as a training ground. After clearing the exercise with the council and some apprehensive neighbours, the Volunteer Fire Brigade team lit and extinguished fires in each bedroom individually as exercises, before letting the entire house burn.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Walkinshaw said it was a very rare opportunity for his 19-person team to experience a residential blaze.

"It is very unusual to get given a house in an urban environment.

"It gave our guys a chance to observe the various stages of fire development and the relevant fire suppression measure for each of those."

He said the fire was spectacular, but also a warning to the number of onlookers. "Even intentionally lit it is an eerie sight.

"From a prevention perspective, it has a significant effect people witnessing that.

"They see the impact of it, and it helps drive some of the messages that we promote in the local community."

Once the volunteers let the blaze go, the house burned to the ground in just under an hour.

A strong northerly wind allowed the smoke to waft over the harbour.