Editorial: Community spirit to the fore

Linda Hall, Assistant Editor, Hawke's Bay Today.

There was a feeling of unease in the newsroom on Monday morning as sirens starting screaming and the wind whipped around the building.

We could hear the high pitched wail of siren after siren inside our building as firefighters rushed to control fires all over the region.

The heartbreaking photo of the house on fire on Waimarama Rd told just how bad the situation was. Not long after a State of Emergency was called.

I was so glad to wake this morning to stillness. However, every now and then the wind would whip up.

I knew the last thing exhausted fire crews would want was another windy day.

Thankfully the conditions yesterday were far better but still fire crews and volunteers spent all day containing the fire.

As usual Hawke's Bay's community spirit has risen to the fore as locals come to the aid of those affected by the fire and the Salvation Army moved in to help.

The Sallies fed 800 hamburgers, 600 sausages, 300 pies and 40 loaves of toasted sandwiches to firefighters, and of course supplied them with much needed hydration.

All at their own expense.

Several local businesses have also supplied food to the Hastings Fire Station.

That's what community spirit is all about and we have it in bucket-loads.

It looks like we might get a little rain toward the end of the week but it's not going to be nearly enough to satisfy our thirsty land.

We all need to be vigilant. If you see smoke report it, if you see someone throw a cigarette butt out the window, take their number plate and report it.