Blaze threatens homes

STAFF REPORTERS
A large forest fire that threatened three houses in rural Hastings has driven home how "exceptionally dry" the Hawke's Bay region is - and the situation looks unlikely to change any time soon.
The fire came within 10 metres of the three homes in on Glengarry Road, Puketapu, yesterday. Three helicopters with monsoon buckets and five fire crews from Hastings, Napier and five rural brigades and Pan Pac fought the 15ha forest fire, which started about 2pm yesterday.
Fifty firefighters fought the fire in mature pine trees and grass paddocks at the peak of the blaze. For a time, the strong winds meant it was too dangerous for firefighters to get near the flames, so the helicopters fought from above until the gusts abated.
Hastings District Council emergency management officer Mark Boere said strong winds pushed the fire toward the three homes.
"With the big winds, burning embers were 100 to 200 metres ahead of the front," Mr Boere said.
The families considered evacuation but felt safe to stay. Mr Boere said fire conditions were extreme in the Bay. "It's tinder dry, especially in rural areas, where it is very brown."
There had been little grass growth, and a fire could quickly ignite in dry conditions and start a serious fire, he said.
On average, 5mm of moisture evaporated each day, and while yesterday's rainfall helped control the grass fire, it had little effect on burning pine trees, and did little to aid the extreme fire risk. Without considerable rain there would be constant danger and the extreme fire risk would stay in place.
Resident Imogen Scheele was at home when two neighbours came "ripping inside" to warn her family of the fire.
"I looked out and it was pretty big, the flames were huge and the wind was just getting stronger. The flames were huge, you could see them from the airport," she said.
However, the fire went in the opposite direction, sparing the 20 cattle in their paddock.
Miss Scheele said firefighters were on guard to protect her home and another house on the property.
It took fire crews four hours to control the blaze, and firefighters worked through the night to contain hot spots. Hastings senior station officer Bruno Saathof said crews were positioned to protect the houses and stopped the flames engulfing homes.
"People who are burning require a permit and should not light fires without one," Mr Saathof said.
Fire investigators were still determining the cause of the blaze, but it was not thought to be suspicious.
Fire crews were expected to be at the Puketapu site for days, dampening hot spots.
* NZ taken by storm - page 3