Hastings fires to cost $1 million

The Hastings fires will have likely cost around $1 million to fight. Photo/Duncan Brown

Battling the Hastings fires is likely to have cost around $1 million, says Hastings District Council.

Although the council will stump up the money initially, it will apply to have the costs reimbursed by the National Rural Fire Authority, said spokeswoman Diane Joyce.

Ms Joyce said it was still too early to provide a more detailed estimate of the total cost. She said some of the larger costs were known; $360,000 was spent on helicopters on Monday and Tuesday.

Other costs, such as the fire retardant and fuel for the vehicles were unknown as yet.

The rural fire authority will chase down anyone if found to be liable for the fire's ignition.

Ms Joyce said the input from the New Zealand Fire Service this week was covered by the service.

Fire crews from Taranaki, Auckland, Tararua, Rotorua, Rangitikei and Whangarei and the Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority (Central North Island), fire crews from the Defence Force, the Department of Conservation, the Fire Protection Service and the NZ Fire Service were on hand this week.