‘Really embarrassing’: Large vegetation blaze near Whanganui a planned burn-off

Firefighters struggled to access a vegetation fire near Parikino that turned out to be an unnotified controlled burn-off.

• Firefighters are urging landowners to notify them of planned burn-offs after a ‘massive’ fire near Parikino.
• The fire, lit by the property owner, led to a two-hour response involving seven tankers and a helicopter.
• Fire and Emergency NZ emphasises using the Check Before You Light website to prevent unnecessary emergency responses.

Firefighters are warning landowners to let them know about planned burn-offs after responding to a “massive” vegetation fire near Parikino, Whanganui.

The large fire among thick scrub and grass turned out to have been lit by the property owner.

Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager Andrew Tollison said it was vital that property owners informed fire services of such burn-offs or controlled burns.

“If people were to log their burn-offs ... then we don’t chase these things for hours.

“It stops these responses, which must be really embarrassing for the property owner.”

Fire services were alerted by a passerby to a “fire in bushes” near State Highway 4 about 4pm on Monday.

Large plumes of smoke were seen across the rural area, with one witness describing the fire as “massive”.

“There was certainly a lot of smoke, that’s for sure,” Tollison said.

Two crews from the Whanganui fire station were sent to the area, but struggled to get access because of the thick scrub and location on a hillside.

Tollison said a helicopter was sent in to help crews locate the fire in the bush.

“In the end, when we finally got there and managed to track it down, it was a controlled burn-off that we were not made aware of,” he said.

At 6.15pm, the helicopter crew made contact with the property owner who explained the fire was intentional.

Fire crews, with seven tankers and a helicopter, had spent more than two hours working to access the fire.

A Whanganui fire station spokesman said they located the controlled burn in grass and scrub at the top of Parihauhau Rd.

“It was left in the hands of the landowner.”

He said the important message was for anyone planning to start a fire to alert fire services first.

People can notify Fire and Emergency before lighting a fire via the Check Before You Light website.

Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023.