Wind fans fire into drain

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

FIREFIGHTERS were called to Opou Road just south of the Waipaoa River Bridge roundabout last night after flames from a rubbish fire spread to grass in a nearby drain.

Fire and Emergency NZ sent an appliance and two water tankers at 6.35pm.

“We were there until about 8.30pm,” a senior firefighter said. “The farmer helped put the fire out with his sprayer unit.”