Grass fire looks to have been deliberately lit

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

Police and firefighters were called to Sponge Bay Road yesterday afternoon in response to what appeared to have been a deliberately lit grass fire alongside the road.

The emergency services responded at around 1.10pm.

Fire and Emergency NZ sent two fire appliances, two water tankers and a rural unit to tackle the fire, which covered an area of about 10 metres by 30 metres.

Firefighters said it looked like the grass had been deliberately set alight.

The fire was burning about 3-400 metres away from the venue of the annual Gisborne Boys High School cross-country event, further on down Sponge Bay Road.

“We were able to keep the road open while the fire was put out,” a senior firefighter said.

Police said they have been speaking to people at the scene and working to ascertain the circumstances.

Inquiries are ongoing at this stage.”