Northland firefighters at the scene of Tuesday's vegetation fire, which investigators believe was deliberately lit. Photo / Courtesy of Paparoa Volunteer Fire Brigade
Northland firefighters at the scene of Tuesday's vegetation fire, which investigators believe was deliberately lit. Photo / Courtesy of Paparoa Volunteer Fire Brigade
A resilient gecko was alive amongst the ashes of a large vegetation fire in Waiotira which investigators believe had been deliberately lit.
Tuesday's blaze on Mititai Rd was the third suspicious fire in the past week in the rural area, about 20km south of Maungakaramea and a 45-minute drive fromWhangārei.
Locals were encouraged to be alert to any suspicious behaviour and report it to police or Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) immediately.
It took five brigades, supported briefly by a helicopter, more than four hours to bring Tuesday's blaze under control as it tore through 1.5ha of wilding pine and pampas grass.
Maungakaramea Voluntary Rural Fire Force was first on the scene, followed by Whangārei Station crews.
A photo of the gecko still alive despite getting caught in a large vegetation fire in Waiotira on Tuesday. Photo / Courtesy of Paparoa Volunteer Fire Brigade
FENZ assistant area commander for Whangarei/Kaipara Graeme Quensell said the fire's rural location meant water to extinguish the blaze was "a bit of an issue".
However, the officer in charge called in further appliances and tankers from Paparoa, Dargaville, and Ruakākā volunteer brigades to provide an abundance of water to fight the fire.
After a long stretch in light winds, firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the point where it was safe to let it burn itself out, Quensell said.
