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Timber Supplier's Shed Burns Near Taupo

18/12/2015

Emergency services were at the scene of a fire near a timber yard near Taupo.

A fire has broken out in a large sawdust storage shed at a timber manufacturer's yard near Taupo. Fire crews were called to the Permapine roundwood and treated timber supplier at the corner of Broadlands Road and White Road at Broadlands, 20 kilometres northeast of Taupo just before 7.30pm on Thursday.

Twelves fire trucks and 50 fire fighters were expected at the blaze. An eye witness at the scene said St John Ambulance was also at the fire. Cutting tools and heavy machinery could be seen also, possibly to gain better access to the fire.

Northern fire communications shift manager Megan Ruru said the fire was at the rear of the building. "We have a fire in the boiler house at Permapine," said Ruru. The building was 20m wide and 50m long. "It appears to used to hold sawdust. They've got a multiple number of crews working with hoses at this stage. They are managing to contain it."

Fire appears contained with crews dousing hot spots.

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Fires Not Related

15/12/2015

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Three suspicious fires in Rotorua, including this blaze in Sulphur Bay last month, are thought to be unrelated. Photo/Ben Fraser

It is unlikely the same people are responsible for three large suspicious fires that have happened in Rotorua during recent months. Since May, there have been fires at Linton Park, Sulphur Point and Rotorua Girls High School. All are considered suspicious but no one has yet been held accountable.

Central Lakes area commander Graham Fuller said the fire at Linton Park on Thursday last week is still being treated as suspicious and police were still investigating. Last month there was a large blaze at Sulphur Point which Mr Fuller said was still being investigated and in May this year two Rotorua Girls High School maths classrooms and the rest of H Block was damaged. Mr Fuller said he did not think the fires were related and at this stage they still did not know who started them.

Fire crews investigate a suspicious fire in a Rotorua Girls' High School classroom in May. Photo/Ben Fraser

"They don't appear connected. All the fires are totally different and usually if fires are connected there is a pattern of some sort." Mr Fuller said police were still investigating the fires. Police were unavailable to comment yesterday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Rotorua police on (07) 348 0099.

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Blaze Treated As Suspicious

11/12/2015

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Police have confirmed a fire in Linton Park is being treated as suspicious. The fire has now been fully extinguished, with fire crews leaving the scene about 6.40pm. Senior Sergeant Denton Grimes said there was evidence the fire may be suspicious.

Police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact Rotorua police on:
07) 348 0099.

Earlier:
About five fire trucks and 30 firefighters were needed to bring a scrub fire in Linton Park under control. Assistant Area Commander Hamish Smith said this afternoon's fire involved two main patches of vegetation where the council had recently removed gum trees. The smell of smoke was obvious from several blocks away with thick clouds of smoke in the area.

Nearby resident Kay Watt said she was sick of the fires in the park. "It's just going to keep happening, the council needs to clean it all up and get rid of it," she said. On October 31 firefighters spent more than three hours putting out a fire in a large stack of wood in the park. That blaze was treated as suspicious.

Council public relations manager Mary Anne Gill said the council had planned to clean the area up in the next few days. "The team are conscious of the area and weren't going to be leaving it, there are plans in place to take care of it in the next few days, the last thing we want is for this to keep flaring up," she said.

A rural fire service training exercise was also held at the same spot last weekend.

Earlier:
Rotorua fire crews are responding to a "pretty large" fire in Linton Park. Fire service northern communications shift manager Scott Osmond said there were about five trucks on the scene. The fire was not yet under control. Mr Osmond said the fire was at the same place in Linton Park where the Rotorua Lakes Council had recently removed gum trees. Central Lakes Area Commander Graham Fuller said they were "quite concerned" with the wind. A reporter at the scene said the smell of smoke was obvious from several blocks away with thick clouds of smoke in the area.

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Crews Train For High Fire Risk

8/12/2015

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Rotorua's rural firefighters doing a training exercise at Linton Park Community Centre, where conditions were similar to where vegetation fires can break out. Photo / Ben Fraser

If you saw helicopters with monsoon buckets but no smoke in sight, you weren't dreaming - it was all part of a rural fire service training exercise.

In the lead-up to what is expected to be a busy season for scrub and bush fires, Rotorua's rural firefighters simulated the sort of conditions where vegetation fires can break out. The training session was held at the Linton Park Community Centre on Saturday, where waste gumtree timber had recently been removed.

The remaining fine material had been identified as similar to what can be found in areas where scrub fires are likely and was suitable for a training exercise. About 40 firefighters from Lake Okareka, Lake Tarawera and West Rotoiti, as well as the Rotorua Lakes Council rural fire services, took part in the training.

Rotorua Lakes Council sport and recreation manager Rob Pitkethley said rural firefighters and fire trucks were carrying out simulated firefighting activities "for a large fire area". "Crews from all over the district [were there] undertaking pump training and using helicopters equipped with fire-suppression apparatus."

The council's rural fire zone manager Richard Horn said the simulation went well. "It was a good practical training day which was used as a refresher on proper protocol as well as a way to prepare ourselves for the busy summer season." Mr Horn said the training was based around preparedness and working with the equipment. "A lot of the training was about working safely with helicopters, filling the monsoon buckets and using the equipment that gets taken out to vegetation fires.

"There are differences between dealing with vegetation fires and structure fires because [fire] in the open has more ability to spread quickly and get out of control. "The simulation was a great way to get ourselves ready for the busy fire period between December and the end of March."

How to prevent wildfires
* Check whether you're allowed to light an outdoor fire every time.
* Stay with the fire until it's out (put your hand in the fire to make sure it's out - seriously).
* Don't light a fire on a windy day.
* Make sure there is 3m clear around the whole area to be burned, and no overhanging plants or trees.
* Follow permit conditions.
* Have fire-fighting gear and supplies close by, especially a good water source.
- Department of Conservation

- Rotorua Daily Post

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Rural Fire Fighters Recognised at Ceremony

8/12/2015

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Some of the district's longest serving rural fire fighters were recognised by the Rotorua Lakes Council this week.

Personnel from three local volunteer Rural Fire forces, with a total of 324 years of service, were recognised at a special council function on Wednesday night.

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said that, kitted out in new uniforms, the fire fighters looked a very professional fire-fighting team, before presenting long-service medals for between three and 28 years' service.

The most poignant presentation came earlier when Carol and Bill Nelson received a fire helmet in memory of their fire fighter son Guy who died in August last year from a brain tumour.

Read more:
• El Niño spells big fire risk for Rotorua

The helmet - the Guy Nelson Trophy - is to be presented annually to a Rural Fire volunteer in memory of Guy, but will stay with the Nelsons in the meantime while decisions are made on what the trophy will be presented for.

"You do so much more than save lives," Mrs Chadwick told the fire fighters. "You give service over and above your other life. You're our treasures and I know you all get so much out of volunteering."

Mrs Chadwick also praised members of both the Rural Fire and New Zealand Fire services for successfully battling a major bush fire at Sulphur Point just last month. "It could have been so drastic if not for your teamwork," she said.

- Rotorua Daily Post

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