Called out to driftwood fire

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Fire crews from the city and rural crews were tied up for a couple of hours on Sunday dealing with a fire in driftwood at the mouth of the Waipaoa River.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand received a call about it at around 10.40am that morning.

“It involved an area of driftwood that covered 15 by 25 metres,” a senior firefighter said.

Two appliances from the Gisborne fire station were involved, and two rural appliances.

“We had it pretty much out by midday and then the rural teams dampened down the remains,” he said.

How the fire got started has not been established.

“It’s an unknown cause.”