Second burning trial succeeds

A SECOND trial burn of tree debris on the Tolaga Bay beachfront last Friday was so successful, the decision was made to continue with the fan-burning technique this week.

Tens of thousands of tonnes of forestry slash, logs and other debris on the beach has been piled up along the beaches north and south of the Uawa River mouth.

A fan-forced incineration system has been tried and after a first trial was called off, a second trial on Friday was successful.

“It was a great burn, with very little emission. It was a brilliant fire,” said Uawanui chairman Victor Walker.

The debris on the beach gets taken to burning pits on the beach, which have air blasted into them to ensure the wood debris is incinerated with minimal smoke.

The first trial was called off because the interior of the wood being burned was still too damp.

“They have found a solution to ensure that the fire gets up to the intensity required to burn the wood,” Mr Walker said.

“After Friday’s fire went so well, the decision was made to continue with the burning operation.

“A start was be made from today.”

The first burns will be on the most popular, well-used areas of the beach, in front of the motor camp on the south beach and in front of the surf life saving club on the north beach.

Hikurangi Forest Farms general manager Ian Brown said it was good they had been able to get the fires going.

“It is an absolute relief to finally get this going. It has been a long time coming.”

Mr Brown said they had built the log piles differently to increase the effectiveness of the fan-forced incineration system.

“We’ve built the piles differently in order to get the heat level up. That way, that heat evaporates the water in the logs.

“We will keep going as long as the weather is right,” he said.

“We are looking forward to getting as much burning done as we can before Christmas.”