Blog Archives

Fire Cause Remains A Mystery

11/11/2015

What sparked the Sulphur Bay blaze remains a mystery, with fire investigators unable to pinpoint the cause. However, police are yet to rule out the possibility it was intentionally lit.

Specialist fire inspector Stuart Bootten said the investigation into Sunday's fire had ended. "We have determined it as undetermined. We just can't pinpoint the cause, there's just too much destruction. We know where it started but don't know how it started," Mr Bootten said. Mr Bootten said the information gathered by his team had been passed to police.

Inspector Stu Nightingale said Rotorua police were investigating the fire. He said it would be treated as suspicious while investigators tried to determine whether or not it was intentionally started.

Meanwhile, the Te Ara Ahi Cycle Trail and adjacent walking tracks that were closed as a safety precaution reopened to the public today.

Rural Fire and New Zealand Fire Service crews had been on site mopping up and monitoring conditions since the big scrub blaze and sulphur deposit fires broke out. Rotorua Lakes Council said in a statement the last hot spots were under control and people could again use the cycle trail and walking tracks.

However, it warned people to keep to the defined tracks and not ride or wander off into other areas on the sulphur flats where the risk of unstable ground remains.

The fire started about 3.30pm and quickly spread, with flames dispersing 500m to 1km gutting bush and smaller trees. Smoke could be seen from all over the city, with reports of ash reaching Lynmore. It took more than four hours for 10 fire trucks and two helicopters with monsoon buckets to contain the fire.

Anyone with information can call police on (07) 348 0099.

0 Comments

Experts Look into Sulphur Bay Fire

9/11/2015

0 Comments

Fire crews have kept a close watch overnight on the scene of a massive fire near central Rotorua while experts try to work out how the blaze started.

Rotorua Lakes Council principal rural fire officer Richard Horn said they were still to determine what caused the fire in Sulphur Bay yesterday afternoon.

"There are still a few active hot spots through the area including a few sulphur fires," Mr Horn said.

A firefighter was on standby at the scene throughout the night to make sure the fire was contained and to ensure there were no re-ignitions.

A Rotorua Daily Post reporter at the scene this morning said the area looked dry, burnt and there was a potent smell.

The fire started about 3.30pm and quickly whipped up, with flames spreading 500m to 1km gutting bush and smaller trees.

There were reports of ash reaching as far away as Lynmore.

It took more than four hours to contain with help from about 10 fire trucks and two helicopters with monsoon buckets.

- Rotorua Daily Post

0 Comments

Scrub Blaze Contained

8/11/2015

0 Comments

A large blaze in Sulphur Bay took more than four hours to contain with the help of about 10 fire appliances and two helicopters with monsoon buckets.

Emergency services were called to the shrub fire around 3.30pm today.

As firefighters worked to find access into the site the blaze quickly spread with flames licking the tops of the tallest trees in the area.

Fire Service central-lakes assistant area commander Hamish Smith said the flames spread between 500m to 1km, gutting many smaller trees and surrounding bush.

"It is hard to say how high the flames were getting or how far they spread because we were just focused on getting them contained.

"I wouldn't know what has caused it. The area is high in sulphur so it could have just been a sulphur fire but we don't know yet."

About five fire appliances from Rotorua attended the scene accompanied by two rural fire crews from Okareka, one crew from Ngongotaha and two hazardous chemical appliances.

Two helicopters with monsoon buckets joined the efforts after ground crews struggled to contain the flames in its remote location.

Police were stationed along Te Ngae Rd regulating the traffic and ensuring people didn't linger on the side closest to the flames.

Rotorua's Avon Scandlyn said she saw the smoke from Fenton St and went to investigate. "When my husband saw smoke billowing from this way we thought we'd better go check it out in case it hadn't been reported."

Mrs Scandlyn has lived in Rotorua all her life and said there had been a few fires in the area in the past. "I think the area dries out very easily and after a few days of no rain it's quick to set fire. "It's a good thing it's not so windy today because it would be spreading 10 times as fast.
After about half an hour vehicles started parking along the side of the road to watch firefighters work to contain the blaze.

Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians frequently stopped to take videos and pictures of the flames. Nadine Davis stopped to watch the fire after seeing the smoke from Countdown on Fenton St. "At first it was just wispy white smoke but then after about five minutes I started to see black plumes wafting up. "There have been fires around this area before but I've never seen one as close to town as this.

The Rotorua Daily Post received reports of burnt leaves and ash falling in Lynmore. The fire could be seen from around the district.

A northern fire communications spokesman said the fire is being investigated.

EARLIER:

A helicopter is about to join in the efforts to put out a major fire near Sulphur Point. About six fire appliances are at the scene and a helicopter with monsoon bucket is about to take off.

Police are advising people to stay away from walking tracks around Sulphur Point where a large fire has broken out. Senior Sergeant Malcolm Collins of the District Command Centre said the fumes had the potential to be poisonous and they were asking people to stay away from the tracks.

He said the fumes were "okay at the moment" and the wind was blowing them away from the road. Several cars had stopped along Te Ngae Rd to watch the blaze but traffic was flowing at the moment. About eight police were at the scene.

4.30pm: Firefighters are attending a fire near the Sulphur Point walkway, between Puarenga Park and the Sudima Hotel.

A reporter at the scene said "heavy smoke" and flames could be seen from Te Ngae Rd.
One lane of Te Ngae Rd is partially closed for traffic heading east.

- Rotorua Daily Post

0 Comments

Scrub and Sulphur Fires Close Section of Rotorua Trails

8/11/2015

0 Comments

A section of Rotorua's Te Ara Ahi Cycle Trail and walking tracks has been temporarily closed today as a result of a scrub fire yesterday and a number of sulphur fires which have broken out in the area.

The section of the trail and tracks affected is bound by Sulphur Bay and Te Ngae Rd, and stretches from Sudima Hotel at one end and to the Whakarewarewa rugby grounds at Puarenga Park.

Rotorua Lakes Council Sport and Recreation manager Rob Pitkethley said people were being asked to stay well away from the area and to comply with closure signs and barriers until further notice.

"This is a public safety precaution because there's the potential for ground instability and also risks from acrid fumes where some of the sulphur deposits have ignited."We don't want people turning up just to have a look at what's going on, putting themselves at risk and making the work of our emergency services more difficult," he said. "We'd really appreciate everyone's cooperation and would ask that they stay well clear of the area."

Mr Pitkethley said the New Zealand Fire Service and Rural Fire Authority were working together to deal with the problems, and to monitor and dampen down any further fire outbreaks.

- Rotorua Daily Post

0 Comments

Linton Park Blaze 'Suspicious'

2/11/2015

0 Comments

Firefighters dampen down hotspots at the reserve on Saturday.

Rotorua firefighters are treating a blaze at the Linton Park Reserve as suspicious after they spent more than three hours putting out a fire in a large stack of wood on Saturday.

Rotorua Fire Brigade senior station officer Richard Anastasi said the fire was called in at about 4.40pm with six units - three from Rotorua, two from Ngongotaha and one from Lake Okareka - attending the scene.

Mr Anastasi said the cause of the fire was unknown and was being treated as suspicious.
He said there were a number of large piles of wood in the reserve after the Rotorua Lakes Council cut down trees and scrub there recently.

"It's up to the police to investigate if they want to, but since we don't know the cause we are treating it as suspicious. It could have been some kids playing with matches, it could have been deliberately lit, or it could have been totally accidental."

He said the council had been contacted about reducing the size of the remaining piles of wood.
"It was quite a large pile and we had to use a digger to break it up.

"We have had a word with the council to try and minimise the risk up there as soon as possible. There's still a lot of cleaning up to do there and the longer it's there it will be more of a risk.

"There was no danger of it damaging property, but I was concerned as it was fairly close to a lot of gum trees. We did manage to cut it off as there was also a breeze going through there. We had it under control in an hour and spent a few hours to dampening it down."

Firefighters also used a thermal imaging camera to locate and put out hotspots.

He said it was a timely reminder for people to be very careful with a long hot summer forecast.
"People need to be aware there is a restricted fire period on now, especially in rural areas, where any fire needs a permit."

0 Comments