MAJOR FIRE IN FAR NORTH

[DT-NZ]

The phone has been crazy here, two friends rang to say there is a huge fire out over Whatuwhiwhi ( area ) - inland road is blocked off - these pics were taken approx 20:19hrs this evening... I took another look 5mins ago and through the binoculars I can clearly see the flames

Friends said all fire units have been called out and they watched a plane flying over the fire zone? they dont know if it was a plane taking media out to the area!!!

With the extreme tinder dry conditons out that way - this is not good.

[DT-NZ]

The Rusty Anchor Backpackers webcam shows the smoke and fire.

[DT-NZ]

This is terrible!!! so terrible - I can see the glow of the fire from here... - my phone is going crazy!!! have to go.

[DT-NZ]

The area roughly where the blaze is- is mostly covered in manuka and scrub - from the photo's attached you are looking W and on the webcam you are looking SW.

[jamie]

nothing on news websites yet which is odd. not good news to hear.

[DT-NZ]

nothing on news websites yet which is odd. not good news to hear.

Spoke to a friend who had rang the TV1 newsdesk to report the Fire and was told they had many received calls this evening - she asked for an update and was told it seem to be under control and they would be keeping a close eye on it.

A huge thanks to all the local firefighters and volunteer's and to The Rusty Anchor for their webcam - it will be interesting to watch a replay of today's event's tomorrow.

Well, need to rest now after all that excitement... in a couple of hours off Whangarei - have abit of breather there and then on to Auckland.

Will be back home again the weekend sometime.

[DT-NZ]

Again, more DREADFUL, TERRIBLE news - another fire today in less than a week- took these pic's about an hour ago approx - had a look from the rusty anchor webcam - however was unable to see the smoke from that angle.

Will post a link to news article in yesterday's local rag regarding first blaze last week.

[Michael]

looks like pyrus? cloud developing from the heat of the fire.

[DT-NZ]

looks like pyrus? cloud developing from the heat of the fire.

Hi Michael,

I took some vid footage of it, but, the file was too big 2mins in length to upload and I just feel awful nauceous here today at the computer, I couldnt tolerate waiting for the file to upload (30mins) - so I had to crop it and made a quick 24 sec video instead and uploaded it to youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKpi1kjrGYs

Also article below from Northland Age on last weeks blaze.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2010 - Still the warnings are not heeded

FIRE-FIGHTERS at the scene of last week's blaze on the Karikari Peninsula. Three helicopters were used to bring the fire under control.


It was not clear how a potentially major fire at Lake Ohia, on the Karikari Peninsula, started last Wednesday evening (although given that it began on the side of Inland Road it could well have been lit deliberately, or was perhaps started by a discarded cigarette butt), but the blaze further frustrated Kaitaia's Chief Fire Officer Colin Kitchen.
"People still aren't listening," he said, referring to the repeated warnings issued over recent weeks regarding the increasingly high fire risk throughout the Far North.
The Kaitaia brigade had responded to two more fires on Sunday, one of them at Ngataki, which began as a rubbish fire.
The Karikari Peninsula fire consumed an estimated 20 hectares of scrub before it was extinguished. Crews from Kaitaia, Mangonui and three rural units initially set out to contain it, three helicopters also being used to attack the flames, while the Department of Conservation took over from the land-based crews some two hours after the alarm was raised.
The helicopters had continued to be used until 3 a.m., Mr Kitchen said, while ground crews had spent a couple of days dampening down remaining hot spots.
"We got on to it pretty quickly, and we were lucky with the wind," he added.
Meanwhile Northland's principal rural fire officer, Chris Jenkins, said last week that all rural fires were investigated to determine their cause, and the Lake Ohia blaze was no exception.
"Most wildfires in the region are caused by carelessness or they're deliberately lit," he said. "They're an unacceptable waste of resources, and could cost lives. Whoever is responsible can expect to pay the bill.
"Whoever started these fires (at Ruakaka, Waikare and Lake Ohia), whether they meant to or not, will be found, and they'll find it was an expensive exercise," Mr Jenkins added.
"Even a small fire requires a wide outlay of fire-fighters and equipment, and helicopters aren't cheap. It's time people realised fire-fighting isn't free. It comes out of rates and taxes, and their personal pockets if they're at fault."

[DT-NZ]

Forgot to mention the cicada's are deafening (did you hear them on the vid (?) - still the ear plugs help and do offer temporary relief!!!!

[Nev]

Two large forest fires up there around midday today according to Stuff - one in Pouto situated on Northlands west coast and the other in Kaimaumau in the Far North.

Story and pic - 'Plantation fires in Northland'.

[DT-NZ]

Two large forest fires up there around midday today according to Stuff - one in Pouto situated on Northlands west coast and the other in Kaimaumau in the Far North.

Story and pic - 'Plantation fires in Northland'.

Thank's Nev will forward link onto friends - it's a dreadful terrible thing to happen.