Karikari Fire: Tragic consequences

The tragic consequences of the massive fire in the Far North were likely unanticipated by the person who may have lit it, the Fire Service's top arson expert says.

At least three homes were destroyed, five people fled for their lives and two people were killed after a helicopter plunged into the sea while assisting firefighters on the Karikari Peninsula on Wednesday night.

Northland police investigating the 40-hectare blaze _ the 14th suspicious fire in 18 months on the peninsula.

Speaking from an arson conference in Australia, Fire Service national arson reduction manager Peter Wilding said arsonists often did not appreciate the consequences of their actions, which in this case included ``horrendous loss of life''.

``There's been tragedy in Northland, there's a couple of people who have lost their lives, and I think it would be fair to assume that the person who lit the fire wouldn't have been anticipating that, as tragic as that was,'' he told APNZ.

``What we have are fires that would appear to be deliberately lit _ there's no other reasonable cause for these fires to have started.

``But all it takes is for an individual to be making a poor choice and lighting a fire to create these things. Once they've started there's no knowing how big they'll go or what the consequences will be.''

Mr Wilding said fires could make communities feel powerless.

``Unfortunately one of the things about fire is it often has a very high profile, it's very visible, the damage and the loss that can occur can be quite significant. And the impact goes beyond just firefighting.

``Many of the firefighters in Northland are volunteers, so they've left their jobs and their families to go and do this, and put themselves to some degree at risk in doing that.''

People often thought there was not much that could be done to address arson, but there were a number of things communities could do.

``Probably one of the strongest things communities can do is simply to report information _ suspicious behaviour, cars in areas they shouldn't be, particularly in rural areas,'' Mr Wilding said.

``A key message here is even what could be seen to be insignificant information, when it's put together with other information coming in, starts to build a really clear picture.''

Police were looking for information from anyone who may have seen unusual activity on a private access road that leads from Matai Bay to the Karikari lighthouse.

They were interested in an area beyond a locked gate on the road in particular.

The National Rural Fire Authority yesterday met with the local council and extra relief staff were being brought in.

 

- APNZ