No holiday for more than 50 firefighters battling Far North blaze

Tuesday, 4 January 2022

Firefighters battling a blaze in the Far North are having to deal with people using their temporary water dams for swimming.

The wildfire in Waiharara, north of Kaitāia, has been burning since December 18 and has forced the evacuation of Kaimaumau on two separate occasions.

On Tuesday, 54 firefighters, four helicopters, two bulldozers and two excavators were being used to battle the blaze, Fire and Emergency incident controller John Sutton told Stuff.

The blaze continues to burn in Waiharara, with the flames coming close to Kaimaumau on New Year’s Day.

There would be a heightened level of awareness as winds are expected to pick up and turn northeasterly in the afternoon, he said.

The portable dams are like large bladders, filled with water for firefighting activities. (File photo)

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The fire is 32km across and covering an area of about 2400ha of mostly wetlands, which saw firefighters often having to battle through mud and water, Sutton said.

“It's hard, arduous, laborious work,” he said.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand incident controller John Sutton, left, speaks about the Waiharara fire at a public meeting. He expects it will take weeks to put out.

The terrain of sand and peat means the fires continue burning underground, where they can't be seen.

But if the fire wasn’t bad enough, firefighters have also had to deal with people taking a dip in their portable dams, Sutton said.

“I think they must've thought we put them there for swimming pools.”

The dams are filled with untreated water and placed around the fire ground at strategic spots, so the helicopters and firefighters can access water when needed, he said.

“People should keep off the fire ground and keep away from our equipment – it's not a personal swimming pool … It needs to be in working order.”

Weeks to go to put out fire

While firefighters have been battling the blaze for 18 days, Sutton thought it would still take weeks to put out the fire.

The fire, seen here from Rangiputa Beach on New Year’s Day, is sending ash up to 50km from the fire ground.

An investigation into the cause of the fire has not yet finished.

Sutton said the aim for Tuesday was to create more fire breaks, and the team was working with Tangata Whenua to avoid culturally sensitive areas.

Drones with thermal imaging cameras were used overnight to find hotspots under the ground.

A strong northeasterly breeze is forecast for Tuesday afternoon, but Sutton was confident the fire could be contained, as long as the wind did not go above 40kmh.

Firefighters and incident controllers have come from all over New Zealand, from as far as Dunedin and Invercargill to fight the fire, including crew from the Defence Force, Department of Conservation and forestry workers, Sutton said.

Many crew who have been working the last two weeks will now take some “well-earned rest”, he said.

Mayoral Relief Fund for impacted residents

Far North mayor John Carter has set up a Mayoral Relief Fund to help people affected by the fire, which is the largest in Northland in more than a decade.

While no homes have been destroyed by the fire, the conditions remain challenging, and it is likely that there will be a range of financial impacts on people in surrounding areas, he said.

The Mayor Relief Fund will allow people to make donations to support the community, starting with a donation from the mayor and an invitation to other mayors around the country to do the same.

“Some people can’t afford insurance or don’t have the money to pay the excess on a claim for damaged property or other unbudgeted expenses,” Carter said.

The money will be distributed by the Far North District Council alongside a community governance group including residents, iwi, Civil Defence and Fire and Emergency New Zealand workers.

Individuals will be able to claim up to $1000 – although there will be some flexibility around the cap, Carter said.

The council is also considering how it might recognise the “extraordinary and selfless effort” of volunteer firefighters and others who have fought the fire or supported residents, he said.

“We are incredibly grateful for the work of the fire service, helicopter pilots and support crews, Police, Civil Defence, DOC, the Kaimaumau Community Response Group, community volunteers and Ngāi Takoto,” Carter said.

“A lot of people have worked for long hours in uncomfortable conditions at a time of year when they would normally be enjoying Christmas with their families.”

People wishing to donate to the fund can make payments online or at any ASB Bank branch by quoting account number 12 3244 0022509 04. People wishing to apply to the fund can download an application form or email John.Carter@fndc.govt.nz.