Strong winds flip horse truck in CHB

LUCY CRAYMER
Winds were so strong in Central Hawke's Bay that firefighters had to struggle to stay on their feet while dousing flames during the weekend.
The winds meant a full weekend for emergency services, with numerous fires across the district and a close call for two horses that were in a truck that blew over.
On Saturday at 4.30pm the horse truck travelling along State Highway 50 near Takapau was turned on its side by a gust of wind.
Waipukurau police Constable Neil Baker said the two occupants escaped with only minor scratches and the horses escaped without injury. The road was closed for an hour.
Mr Baker said it was not unheard of for vehicles to be blown off the road but it was unusual to see one blown over.
"Most trucks wait until the winds cleared before they go through," he said.
The winds did not let up in the region and Central Hawke's Bay firefighters had a long night last night as they battled two fires near Ongaonga - both of which had been reignited by wind.
Rural fire officer Bruce Kitto said the wind had been so strong at one fire they attended after 7pm last night, that they had problems standing up.
"It was difficult to put out the fire because of the wind," he said.
The fire had first started about a fortnight ago at a logging site and been extinguished but the wind had reignited the embers.
Firefighters headed to a fire on Wakarara Road around 9pm after another old fire was reignited.
CHB has yet to go into a restricted fire season but Hastings moved into a restricted season this morning - nearly a month earlier that usual.
The restrictions meant anyone wishing to light a fire outdoors must first obtain a permit from a rural fire officer.
Hastings rural fire officer Paul Hawke said Hastings also had problems with old fires being reignited and a scrub fire on Friday night in Crownthorpe had jumped two gullies.
People around the region are being urged to keep an eye on old fires.
Rain is forecast for this afternoon but MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said it was likely to provide only short-term relief.
"A few millimetres of rain is forecast but it will evaporate in a few days," he said. And the westerly winds are expected to be back when another front moves through the Bay on Thursday.