The operations manager at the Karioi Pulpmill is praising Ruapehu firefighters for quickly damping down smouldering pulp on the mill's roof during high winds.
Fire and Emergency NZ was called at 10.43am on Sunday, October 17, when pulp from one of the mill's flash dryers was found to be smouldering on the building's roof.
"High winds spread it and caused a lot of little spots where pulp would be smouldering," Stuart Gibson said.
Volunteer crews from Ohakune, Raetihi, Waiouru and Taihape were quickly on the scene. Some of those firefighters are current and former staff at the mill.
"Their response was real quick. It was outstanding," Gibson said.