Whangārei fire: Permits suspended following busy few weeks

Fire permits have been suspended in Northland following a large scrub fire that broke out in Whangārei Heads last week. Photo / Rachel Maher

An out-of-control rubbish fire has been revealed as the cause of a 20ha scrub fire in Whangārei last Thursday.

The blaze was one of many that have kept Northland firefighters busy this summer amid drought conditions and southwesterly winds.

Those conditions have ramped up fire risk in the region leading to the suspension of fire permits until further notice.

Fire and Emergency Northland group manager Denis Cooper said the region could move into a prohibited fire season if the conditions continued.

He said the Whangārei Heads fire started after a fire burning vegetation rubbish got out of control.

Around 40 ground crew and two helicopters battled the blaze near Tamaterau.

Two homes were evacuated as firefighters worked to protect the homes.

Whangārei residents were urged to be cautious following the fire which took two days to contain.

Northland District manager Wipari Henwood said the fire was an example of how conditions might contribute to risk.

Cooper said the decision to suspend fire permits had not been taken lightly.

”What’s been keeping people busy is the southwest wind coming through. It’s quite unusual for this time of year."

Low humidity and higher wind speed were triggering escaped fires, he said.

“It’s catching people out.”

An aerial photo of the vegetation fire near Whangārei which burned through 20ha last week. Photo / Fire and Emergency NZ

Those most impacted by the permit suspension would likely be farmers and horticulturalists who were well-versed in the risks anyway, he said.

The fire risk has increased over the coming weekend as rain was set to bring wind.

“We are starting to look at whether we should be moving into prohibited fire season,” he said.

Kaitāia Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Craig Rogers said the last few weeks have proven busy compared to the same time last year.

His station had been occupied the last few weeks with fires burning out of control.

On Tuesday three engines from Kaitāia attended a scrub fire which measured about 70m to 50m.

“That involved 12 people, so a fair few man hours for someone’s misdemeanour,” he said.

Rogers said people were either not aware of restrictions or choosing to flout the rules.

Crews attended a 5ha fire in Kawakawa on New Year’s Day which saw one firefighter receive minor injuries.

Then on January 3, crews attended a 3ha fire at Pataua South on a hillside near Hutchinson Rd.

Helicopters were dispatched to fight the blaze which burned through pine trees and scrub.

Northland moved into a restricted fire season on Friday, January 10.

Those wanting to light an outdoor fire previously needed to apply for a fire permit.

However, permits were suspended until further notice today due to the risk.

A decision would be reviewed over the permit suspension on Sunday, Cooper said.

Brodie Stone is an education and general news reporter at the Advocate. Brodie has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.