Witnesses to a fire that spread rapidly through sand dunes in Papamoa are praising the quick actions of firefighters.
A section of sand dunes in Papamoa were scorched after the blaze spread through the sand dunes near Parton Rd just before 5pm yesterday.
Witness Julie Torrey said she saw smoke coming from the sand dunes and heard the sirens blaring from the Papamoa volunteer fire station.
"The fire took off fast but I was impressed how quickly the firefighters, from two appliances, got there and put it out," Ms Torrey said.
As she drove along Papamoa Beach Rd, towards the blaze, she got out of her car to watch the fire being doused. She said it was spreading fast and was fanned by "a fairly brisk easterly wind".
Northern Communications Fire Service shift manager Steve Smith said the fire was "moving quickly along the beach" towards Mount Maunganui when firefighters arrived.
It measured about 10 metres by 20 metres and the two crews, from Mount Maunganui and Papamoa Volunteer Brigade, extinguished the blaze using a hose and a forestry pack "because they couldn't get too close to it".
