Crews to monitor fire overnight

Eight fire crews will continue to monitor the Waimarama fire overnight, which burnt a house to the ground, forced residents to evacuate and put the Hastings district in a state of emergency today.

A Hastings District Council spokeswoman said crews will be concentrating on ensuring buildings are protected.

The main concern to residents near the fire zone will be a change to wind direction tomorrow morning, which could fan smouldering embers and push the fire front into a new direction.

Hastings Civil Defence staff are working until 10pm tonight and will resume at 7am tomorrow morning.

Waimarama Road re-opened to the public at 6pm tonight but Craggy Range Road (off Tukituki Road) and Lopez Lane remain closed.

Thirty-seven people were evacuated from 20 houses, while residents earlier evacuated from 23 homes on the Waimarama side of the fire were given clearance to return home from 6pm.

Power was restored to all but eight houses at 7pm.

Cellphone signal sites operating on separate power supply are unlikely to return to mains power until Tuesday morning.

Seven firefighting aircraft will be back on duty on tomorrow morning, checking the current fire situation at Waimarama as well as undertaking checks on today's fire sites near Ripea Stream, Puketitiri, Endsleigh Road, Havelock North and Colin White Road, Te Hauke.

The Welfare Centre operating at Havelock North Function Centre was stood down at 7.30pm.

Two generators are on hand as backup to the Waimarama water supply system.

Residents are asked to stay vigilant and keep an eye on Hastings District Council's Facebook page, HB Emergency websites and/or your local radio station.