14 June 2007

Kapiti Island fire quickly brought under control

A fire that broke out in a ranger’s house on Kapiti Island has been brought under control and staff on the island are safe, Department of Conservation Wellington Conservator Alan McKenzie said this evening.

The fire, which was reported by staff to the Department of Conservation at 4pm, was brought under control by around 5.15pm with the use of two helicopters with monsoon buckets and Fire Service personnel. A DOC fire crew is dampening down the surrounding areas of bush to prevent the fire spreading into the surrounding vegetation.

The Fire Service will be investigating the cause of the fire.

Kapiti Island is an internationally-renowned nature reserve, home to a raft of threatened species, including little spotted kiwi, and any fire can pose a serious risk to the island’s conservation values.

The last remaining pests, rats, were removed from the island in the mid-1990s which has allowed the island’s ecosystems to flourish.

“Our fire emergency systems have worked well. Fire crews were immediately dispatched to the island and the fire was quickly brought under control,” Mr McKenzie said.

The house which caught fire is one of two ranger’s homes on the island. The ranger who occupied the dwelling is safe and well and being looked after by friends, he said.

“We are very relieved that the ranger is safe, and that the fire has not damaged the island’s conservation values.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media