Tuesday, November 27, 2017
Ross McCullough
FIREFIGHTERS have had a busy week in the district attending a number of fires.
Since last Thursday volunteer fire brigades have dealt with two separate vehicle fires, a driftwood fire at Waiotahe Beach, and two vegetation fires.
One scrub fire at Te Kaha was regarded as threatening, given the blustery conditions.
First up on Thursday night, was a utility fire near Whitianga Bay.
Firefighter Robert Borrie said the ute had been travelling along a straight stretch of road near Omaio when the occupants realised it was on fire.
The ute was well ablaze on the side of the road by the time the Opotiki fire crew arrived. The occupants escaped unharmed.
The fire set nearby vegetation alight, which brigade members extinguished.
A seven-tonne refrigerated truck caught fire a kilometre past Marenui early on Friday afternoon, from a suspected mechanical issue.
Mr Borrie said the driver had noticed what he thought was steam coming from the truck and had pulled over to the side of the road. He was alerted by motorists behind that the truck was in fact on fire.
“He managed to back the truck into a layby and from there the fire took hold,” Mr Borrie said.
Fire crews from Opotiki and Waihau Bay turned out for the call.
The truck was returning to the Coast after delivering a load of crayfish to Auckland.
That night an Opotiki fire crew was called out to a reported vegetation fire at Takaputahi off the old Motu Road.
Opotiki fire chief Vic Carter said the crew was unable to find any sign of a fire, and Opotiki District Council fire officer Ian Castles had been called in, but he was unable to find any sign of a fire either.
Mr Carter said the call may have come from a passer-by or as a hoax.
A small driftwood fire in front of the Waiotahe Surf Life Saving Club on Saturday was quickly dealt with by the Opotiki brigade.
Then on Sunday the brigade was called out again, this time to a reported vegetation fire at Te Kaha that was initially thought to be quite threatening.
Mr Borrie said there had been early reports that the fire was spreading rapidly. The high winds prevented a helicopter with a monsoon bucket from taking part, but Mr Borrie said the ground crews got it under control.