Whangārei fire now under control, firefighters to stand down

A scrub fire in a hard-to-reach valley at Whangārei Heads is now under control.

The fire at Waikaraka broke out about 12.30pm on Thursday, threatening houses and leading to evacuations and a temporary road closure.

The blaze was brought under control at 4.15pm on Friday, Fire and Emergency said.

Incident controller Denis Cooper said firefighters will stand down for the evening at 8pm but several crews will be back on Saturday morning to extinguish the remainder of the fire and dampen down hotspots.

“It’s been a big effort for our firefighters - who are both career firefighters and volunteers - and they’ve done a great job,” he said.

“We also appreciate the support of our community, and all the kind messages.”

Residents of two homes who were evacuated on Thursday were able to return home overnight, thanks particularly to the work of helicopter crew.

On Friday, about 40 ground crew were supported by two helicopters in the morning, but they were no longer needed by 2pm.

Incident controller Graeme Quensell said conditions on Friday turned out “perfect” as there was little wind, cooler temperatures and more humidity.

Crews would work on Saturday and Sunday to ensure everything was under control, he said.

A large vegetation fire broke out on Whangārei Heads Rd between Onerahi and Tamaterau. Photo / Rachel Maher

Helicopter operations were slightly delayed this morning as crews worked around Whangārei airport flight times, Quensell said.

Yesterday flights were redirected to Kerikeri and buses were organised for those needing to get to Whangārei.

The fire broke out around 12.30pm yesterday in a narrow gully with farmland on one side and heavy fuels - gorse, tea tree and old tōtara - on the other.

At its height, between eight and 10 properties were threatened by the fire but protected by the helicopters' efforts.

A fire investigator will be on site today to determine the cause.

In the meantime, Quensell reminded the public that Northland moved into restricted fire season this morning.

“This means that anyone who wants to light an outdoor fire will need a fire permit authorised by Fire and Emergency, which can be applied for at checkitsalright.nz.

“As we have seen with this fire, it takes a large number of fire brigades, many of them volunteers, with supporting resources and aircraft to contain and control fires in Northland, so it’s hoped introducing these restrictions now will help us avoid further wildfires.”

Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo said the people he’d spoken with had been appreciative of the fire service, despite delays on Whangārei Heads Rd yesterday.

The fire - though big news for Whangārei - was a stark contrast to the devastating Los Angeles fires, he said.

“I’ve got such high praise for our fire service, just the fact they’ve got to do the work to look after the district and keep everything safe.”

If there’s smoke in your area:

• Households in the affected area downwind of the fire should close windows, doors and ventilation systems. If your house is affected by the smoke, wipe down surfaces - especially cooking surfaces.
• Anyone who remains in the vicinity is advised to keep out of the smoke.
• Smoke inhalation can be particularly dangerous for certain groups, including elderly or pregnant people, young children, those who suffer from asthma or other respiratory conditions and those with chronic illnesses.
• If you experience shortness of breath, wheezing, asthma or chest pain please see your doctor immediately or call 111. For health advice you can also call Healthline for free anytime on 0800 611 116.
• National Public Health Service - Northern Region is providing public health advice, and there’s more information here: https://info.health.nz/fires-smoke.

If your drinking water comes from tanks, not council supply:

• If you are not on council water supply, you will need to check your roof and rainwater storage tanks for ash, debris, fire retardants or foam.
• Contaminated water runoff after fires might impact streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater supplies. Test water supplies if impacted by runoff.
• You should disconnect the downpipe to the water tanks if you see any evidence of ash, debris, retardants or foam.
• If you find ash in your water tank or the water has an unusual taste, odour or appearance (possibly a sign of retardants or form), don’t use the water for drinking, food preparation, cleaning teeth or washing, or for pets.
• Disinfecting or boiling the water will not remove ash, retardants or foam.
• Use bottled water or water saved prior to the fire.
• Do not reconnect the downpipe until a good flush of rain has cleaned the roof or until the roof is cleaned manually.
• Contaminated water can be used to flush toilets and water gardens. Do not use on fruit and vegetable gardens.

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.