Fire in Marlborough field spreads to trees
Monday, 10 February 2020
Helicopters and Marlborough firefighters are battling a large grass fire that has spread into pine trees.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) southern communications shift manager Daniel Reilly said FENZ were alerted to the fire on Taylor Pass Road about 1.25pm.
'We're fighting a relatively large grass fire, approximately 150 by 300 metres,' Reilly said.
'Since that initial size, the fire has spread somewhat, but it has gone into some pine trees and a row of cut pine. So the fire is involving grass, standing pine trees and cut pine trees.
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'Due to the nature of where it is burning, and access to it, it's going to take a relatively long time to fully extinguish.'
He said two helicopters, three trucks from Blenheim Volunteer Rural Fire, two crew from Rarangi Volunteer Fire Brigade and one from Koromiko Fire Brigade were fighting the blaze.
They were expecting to contain it the fire in the 'next wee while', but it was likely to take until Tuesday to fully extinguish.
Marlborough District councillor Francis Maher, who owns the property where the fire started, arrived not long after it broke out.
He said most of the fire had since moved onto neighbouring property Meadowbank station.
'They've [FENZ] done well to control it, it's died down a lot,' Maher said.
'I was here just before the helicopters came, once they [the helicopter] get there you know that it should be fine.'
He said he was keeping a close eye on his cattle but they seemed to 'know what they were doing' and had stayed well away from the fire.
The fire was close to reaching bee hives on Maher's property.
Taylor Pass Honey Co manager Matt Goldsworthy was watching to make sure the hives were not caught up in the blaze.
'The helicopter is doing a good job of keeping it away from the hives, I think it should be fine,' Goldsworthy said.