Plea to ensure fires are out

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

Firefighters were called to burning driftwood at the mouth of the Waipaoa River on Thursday and they have made a plea again for people lighting fires on the beach to ensure they were completely out before they leave the beach.

Fire and Emergency NZ were called about the fire at around 5.30pm that afternooon.

“It was only a small one, covering about 10 by 10 metres, and it had been smouldering for a few days,” a senior firefighter said.

“We were there for about three-quarters of an hour putting it out.”

One fire appliance and a water tanker were involved.

“We’d ask people to be careful with beach fires, particularly in windy conditions.

“Make sure you put the fire out before you leave.”

It was the third driftwood fire at the mouth of the river in the past month.