Mopping up after Marlborough rural fires

Three rural fire crews with a couple of helicopters and a 20-tonne digger have been dealing with the aftermath of the Wharanui fire on Marlborough’s east coast today, working with a specialist forestry fire crew who have been taking down the big burnt-out trees.

“The trees turn into chimneys when fire burns up through their core,” says Marlborough Kaikoura Principal Rural Fire Officer Richard McNamara.

Today volunteers from Flaxbourne and Kekerengu, working with a team from DoC and the forestry crew, dealt with the last hot spots after the fire yesterday burnt through 70 ha between the state highway and the coast, an area accessible only by air or on foot.

“It’s been hard, dirty work for the crews and it’s likely we’ll need another crew there for a third day just to keep an eye on things,” said Mr McNamara.

Meanwhile the fire on the Wither Hills foothills is out.

Mr McNamara said it was fortunate that that grass fire was stopped for a while by a farm track, giving crews time to catch up with it.

There’s a lot of spring growth and even with a bit of rain from time to time, everyone needs to be conscious of the summer fire risk there, he said.

“With the holiday time coming, it’s a good time to remind everyone to make sure visiting friends and family stay safe if they’re heading up to the walking tracks. We want everyone to have a great Christmas and enjoy their walking and cycling but to stay safe as well.”

ENDS.

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