Chopper called in to douse Russell fire

Russell Fire Brigade, Rawhiti Rural Fire Force and a helicopter fought a fire in grass and pine trees at Russell's Long Beach yesterday. PHOTO / SUPPLIED

A helicopter was needed to put out a fire on a Russell property believed to be owned by former tennis No 1 Thomas Muster, known as "the King of Clay".

The blaze broke out just before noon yesterday at the far end of Long Beach. Due to difficulty accessing the site and threat to a pine plantation the Russell Fire Brigade requested assistance from the air.

A Salt Air helicopter based at Haruru Falls brought the fire under control using a monsoon bucket, leaving firefighters from Rawhiti Rural Fire Force to mop up and guard against flare-ups overnight.

Deputy principal rural fire officer Clint Lyall said embers blown from a contractor's burnoff started the fire.

The blaze spread through grass into the pines but there was no damage to the trees thanks to the damp ground and time of year. In summer it would have been a different story, he said.

Principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor said the fire, which covered about 0.5ha, was called in by the Department of Conservation when a ranger spotted it from the water. The Fire Authority was investigating, he said.

Mr Muster, who dominated clay courts in the 1990s, bought a 37ha Long Beach property late last year for $5.65 million.

Meanwhile, the Kerikeri Fire Brigade was called to State Highway 10, near the intersection with Kapiro Rd, after a car caught fire at noon yesterday.

The vehicle was burning fiercely when the brigade arrived to extinguish it. It was then left in the hands of the owners and their insurance company.