"People getting overweight, people getting lung cancer from smoking, I saw a lot of stupid things and we just lived with it," he said.
"I thought, I'm feeling a bit miffed. I've been an idiot, but I've looked after a lot of people."
He had also heard from several others who had accidentally started fires but not been invoiced.
On August 19 Mr Sugrue was helping tidy the Kauri Mountain Rd property belonging to his son, who was away, when he lit a fire to dispose of some vegetation.
"I'd lit fires like this before but not with kikuyu," Mr Sugrue said.
"I tried to put it out and realised it was a lost cause. It went straight towards some gorse and pampus grass."
Kikuyu is an invasive mat-like grass which can help fire spread even when mowed short. Mr Sugrue called 111.
"I was blown away with the alacrity of which it spread," Mr Sugrue said. So, he was grateful when the Fire Service and the council's rural fire contractor arrived.
The fire was "most educational", he said.
"If you had to put a message out it would be to let the public know how dangerous kikuyu is."
Council policy stated it could invoice the person responsible, who then had "the opportunity to offer written submissions to council".
At today's meeting, councillors would decide whether to proceed with billing Mr Sugrue, or cover the bill using ratepayer money.
Mr Sugrue acknowledged his request was "emotive".
"But everyone thinks because you're a doctor you must have a huge silver spoon stuck in your mouth. I gave war service, had five kids and they had disabilities, and I've paid huge taxes," he said.
"I think I'll have to pay the bill," he reflected.
