Culprits responsible for rural fires can expect the bill, warns fire officer

Photo / George Novak

"You start it, you pay." That's the warning from the Bay of Plenty Moana Rural Fire Authority's principal fire officer.

Barry Lowe said there have been four to five out-of-control rural fires this year despite the fire season being well and truly over, which was "extremely disappointing and disturbing".

The latest involved a major scrub fire in Pukehina on Tuesday afternoon which blackened an area of land directly behind houses on Pukehina Parade the size of three rugby fields.

The fire took 25 fire fighters from Pukehina, Te Puke and Maketu Brigades three to four hours to put it out.

Mr Lowe said while charges were unlikely, whoever started the fire can expect to receive the bill, which was still being calculated.

Last week firefighters were called to an out-of-control gorse fire at an Adrine Lane farm in Ohauiti, and a helicopter had to fly in monsoon buckets of water to put it out. Mr Lowe said at $2,000 an hour to hire a helicopter any bill would not be cheap.

He said despite it now being winter, vegetation still dries out during frosts and winds quickly fuelled any fire.