Kitto said several local farmers and station staff also assisted fire crews using beaters and sacks.
The fire was eventually contained but not before about 2.5 hectares of grass was left blackened.
Combustible cow pats
"Fire crews then set about trying to extinguish the burning cow pats that covered the burnt out area," Kitto said.
"This is a long, laborious job as they [cow pats] are extremely difficult to extinguish due to their composition and keep reigniting, especially in the wind."
After nearly four hours, the last fire crew left at 5.15pm and the farm manager continued to keep an eye on the site overnight, Mr Kitto said.
Multiple fires
While crews were deployed at Tikokino, another fire started at about 3.45pm that same day on the corner of Ireland and Homewood Rds outside Waipawa.
Kitto said that fire appeared to have been started when an electric fence shorted on a toitoi bush.
The fire was quickly contained but required NZ fire service crews from Waipawa, Waipukurau and Hastings, along with the Omakere Rural Fire tanker, he said.
"The fire burned an area of about half an acre of short dry grass in a paddock and along the roadside, including several toitoi bushes [but] again, very hard to completely extinguish," said Kitto.
Caution urged
Mr Kitto said farmers and staff should watch out for 'hot stuff' falling from quad bikes and motorcycles, such as animal dung and grass, which could get thrown up onto motors and exhaust systems even if the machines were regularly cleaned.
He also warned the dry weather can create problems with electric fences and cause earth wires to short out, potentially resulting in a fire.
"As the ground dries out, the earth wires become less effective. Often it can be manifested by receiving a shock when opening a gate. Farmers should check their electric fence system for any such faults," Kitto urged.
Thankful station owner
Totara Hills Station owner Michael Rittson-Thomas was full of praise for the crews and volunteers that helped contain the blaze.
"We are just so appreciative and thankful to the fire crews that came from all over CHB to help, and the neighbours as well. It just makes you realise how lucky we are to live in such a great community," he said.
He was also grateful the direction of the strong wind pushed the fire, which started about 1km from the station property, away from his home and north towards Gwavas Rd.
"The wind was blowing in the right direction that day," he said.
The fire was sparked by the extreme dry conditions on his 900 beef and sheep station, which he had owned for more than 20 years.
"It gets this brown on top every five years or so. But the sub-surface is extremely dry. It's about as bad as it gets," said Mr Rittson-Thomas, who confirmed he had been de-stocking due to conditions.
"Most of our trading stock has been moved on. The market's still pretty strong, so we can sell if we need to."
He was hoping for a few weeks of meaningful and persistent rain from the end of February or early March to coincide with a drop in night-time temperatures.
If rain fell any earlier and was followed by continued high temperatures, any new grass would simply dry out and possibly burn again, he said.
