Cigarette stub warning after blaze

A Rotorua fire crew quickly extinguished the blazing shrub. Photo / Bridie Witton

A shrub that caught fire outside a bus stop on Malfroy Rd is a timely reminder for people to dispose of smouldering cigarette stubs properly, a Rotorua firefighter says.

A northern fire communications spokeswoman said a toitoi bush caught fire around 10.45am yesterday.

She said one crew attended the incident and the fire was put out within 15 minutes.

A witness at the scene told the Rotorua Daily Post he was walking past when he "noticed smoke and flames billowing from the bush".

"It was just like 'whoosh' straight up the fence line.

"Those power lines above the bus stop are hanging really low too so I was worried they might catch fire," the witness said.

"There is a lot of dry stuff all along the fence so I guess that's why it caught fire so easily.

"I didn't see how the fire started but my guess is somebody walking past or getting off the bus just flicked their smoke into the bush while it was still hot then it spread from there."

Another witness, Jason Koppe, said he was "cruising back home" when he saw the flames. "We called the fire service and were standing around for about five minutes before they turned up."

Senior station officer Colin Rolfe said the fire was likely caused by a still-smouldering cigarette stub.

"We can't say for sure that's what caused the fire but unless somebody set the bush alight on purpose, it's the most likely cause."

He said the incident was a timely reminder for people to dispose of their stubs properly.

"People need to take more care when disposing of things like cigarette stubs.

"They should be disposed of properly all year round but they do pose a greater risk in the summer months when grass and shrubbery are dry and more flammable."