Fire crews get stuck into blaze

The Whangarei fire crew are working flat out to put out the fire in the Southern Alps.

Whangarei firefighters are making good progress dampening down and mopping up the large blaze that has ripped through more than 300ha near Arthur's Pass in the South Island.

Ten employees of Forest Protection Services joined other firefighters from Southland, Otago and the Great Barrier Island, and six helicopters from 6am yesterday working through over 9km of fire line.

The Department of Conservation described the fire risk as "explosive" and it could pose a major threat to native species as well as recreational and educational facilities in the park, such as ski fields and lodges, if it crosses a state highway. Firefighters brought the blaze largely under control on Tuesday through an aerial attack.

Leader of the Whangarei crew, Mike Sullivan, said they were working in an arduous countryside with temperatures in the mid 20s.

"It's a very steep and long rocky hill. We're working on the borders and flanks to try to keep the fire contained because it's still very dry and the risk is very high."

He said the Whangarei crew had been split into two groups that were working not far from each other.

"We're using hand tools mopping up, extinguishing within 15 metres of the fire boundary," he said.