Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Sven Carlsson
AN explosion that rocked Opotiki on Sunday evening has so far only been partially explained.
Residents living as far away as the Waiotahi Drifts report hearing a large bang sometime after 8pm.
Hikutaia Road residents John and Kay McLeod said the “big bang shook the house”.
The couple said they initially thought something had gone wrong at their property, but finding nothing amiss there they went outside to see what was happening.
“When we came out, all our neighbours were out in the street,” Mrs McLeod said.
“We were pleased it wasn’t just us.”
The Opotiki Volunteer Fire Brigade was called out at 8.19pm.
Deputy chief fire officer Rob Sturdy said the bang originated from a rubbish fire.
“They were burning kiwifruit cut-offs and clippings,” he said.
“They used petrol to start the fire.”
Opotiki police Sergeant Dale Allison said no reports about the bang were made to the police.
Hikutaia Road residents Marie and Jock Brown said they wanted to apologise to any Opotiki people upset by the event.
They said were at a loss to explain why the sound of them starting their fire had been so pervasive and percussive.
Mrs Brown said calves standing 30 metres away had not even reacted.
Mr Brown said they have a three-metre deep rubbish hole on their property, which is right opposite the old hospital.
“My wife and I were helped by our grandsons,” he said.
“We put five trailer loads in the hole – and we thought it’s dark so we might as well light it.”
Not having any diesel, Mr Brown poured three litres of petrol down the hole, then lit it with a firestarter on a stick.
“It went whoosh when it started, but we weren’t even 15 feet away,” Mr Brown said.
“We didn’t even get our eyebrows burned or anything.”
A short distance away, however, it appears the sound was louder.
“My son and a neighbour came running, asking if we were all right.”
Mr Brown said he “could not believe it” when the fire brigade turned up and when he learned people all across town had “heard an explosion”.
“We’ve seen rumours on social media about fridges, but it was all kiwifruit stumps,” he said.
Mr Brown said it was possible that atmospheric conditions and the still night had combined as to carry the sound somehow.
“It was a nice night, with not a breath of wind,” he said.