A fire truck at the scene of the blaze, between Te Haumi and Sullivans Beach, on Monday morning. Photo / Peter de Graaf
A fire truck at the scene of the blaze, between Te Haumi and Sullivans Beach, on Monday morning. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Arson or an illegal campfire is thought to have caused a blaze that threatened up to 10 homes at Paihia.
Firefighters from across the mid-north fought the flames in bush and pines between Sullivans Beach and Te Haumi, just south of the town centre, all Sunday night.
Helicopters using monsoonbuckets finished the job at first light yesterday morning, leaving a forestry crew to cut fire breaks and dampen hotspots.
She had been staying in Haruru Falls with a Veronica St homeowner who had rented the house out as an Airbnb when a neighbour called about 11pm to say the house was on fire.
They raced to Paihia and found flames several metres high just 10m from the deck and spreading rapidly up the hill.
Firefighters were still at Binnie St so she used a garden hose to douse the flames.
A firefighter from Kaikohe's Silviculture Contracting hauls a hose up the hill. Photo / Peter de Graaf
When the brigade arrived she turned the hose onto the house to keep it wet.
''It was scary. You could see the flames roaring into the air. We were definitely in adrenaline mode.''
She left about 3am when the fire was under control and evacuees were allowed to return.
Meanwhile, an elderly Canadian couple who had arrived at the Airbnb that evening after a flight from Vancouver, were evacuated to other accommodation.
Clark called an ambulance for the man who appeared to be overcome by exhaustion coupled with the stress of the fire. He was checked by St John medics.
Fire and Emergency NZ Muriwhenua area manager Wipari Henwood said the fire had started on the beach.
A fire investigator would try to establish whether it had been deliberately lit or was the result of someone lighting a campfire despite the fire ban.
The fire threatened homes on Veronica St (pictured) and Binnie St. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Deputy principal rural fire officer Michael Champtaloup said the area burned was only about a hectare but with up to 10 houses threatened fire crews had been brought in from Paihia, Kawakawa and Kerikeri, along with a mobile command unit, an operational support team and even a mobile canteen from Whangārei.
A Salt Air helicopter doused the flames at first light and remained on standby for the rest of the day.
Yesterday's rain had been helpful but would do little to reduce the fire risk across the region.
''It's not an indication you can light fires. We're getting a lot of people lighting rubbish fires and not taking any notice of the total fire ban.''
Walkers are told to turn back seconds before a burning chunk of tree dropped onto the beach. Photo / Peter de Graaf
A section of coast near Te Haumi popular with dog walkers was closed yesterday after the fire because trees were threatening to topple onto the beach.
One pine tree, which was out of reach of fire hoses, was allowed to burn itself out.
A smouldering piece of trunk fell onto the beach as the Advocate watched, just seconds after walkers had ignored the emergency tape and been turned back by firefighters.
Gill Seccombe, of Veronica St, was also evacuated at the height of the blaze and feared she might have to call her husband to say their house had burned down.
She had nothing but praise for the firefighters, the St John medics and the helicopter pilots.
