Firefighters battle large scrub fire in Whitford, Auckland

Thursday, 30 January 2020

Thick white smoke covers the south-east Auckland suburb of Whitford as firefighters contain a scrub fire.

Firefighters are battling a large scrub fire in south-east Auckland.

Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager Daniel Nicholson said crews were sent to the scene on Birch Park Lane, in Whitford, at 12.48pm on Thursday.

Nicholson said the large scrub and grass fire was about 500 metres by 500m in size.

Five trucks, including a water tanker, were responding to the incident.

The scrub and grass fire was about 500 metres by 500m in size.

* Fires on Mt Wellington, Mt Eden in Auckland after Guy Fawkes fireworks

Firefighters are battling a 500x500 metre scrub fire in Whitford, south-east Auckland.

* Wayward firework from Guy Fawkes display sparks Palmerston North fire**

As of 1.10pm, one truck was at the scene.

Nicholson wasn't aware of any nearby properties being threatened by the flames.

Dalyn Nunn said she and a friend had taken their children to Maungamaungaroa Reserve and were getting back in the car when they noticed the fire.

Conditions are very dry where the scrub fire broke out, resident Dalyn Nunn says.

Nunn said she noticed someone in the area and thought about calling emergency services when a fire truck arrived at the scene.

She said the conditions were extremely dry, looking more like paddocks you would see in Australia as opposed to New Zealand.

'Big flames' were pushed quickly by wind gusts and the fire spread in both directions, she said.

Nunn said there were horses and a house close to the fire which was concerning, but firefighters had appeared to get the blaze under control by the time she left the area.