Abseiling firefighter with chainsaw fights tree fire

A firefighter strapped on a chainsaw and abseiled down a cliff face near Whangarei today to tackle a fire which has burned in a pohutukawa tree for three days.

The tree was set alight by fireworks on New Year's Eve and firefighters have been unable to put out the blaze because of its location on a cliff face at the small coastal settlement of Pataua South near Whangarei.

The fire was burning inside the dead part of a pohutukawa tree, Department of Conservation spokesman Chris Jones said today.

After three days the firefighter to abseiled down the cliff with a chainsaw and cut off the burning part of the tree or cut it open to get water inside.

A series of pumps and a small dam had also been established to provide water to pour onto the tree.

Mr Jenkins said if the wind changed to the east the fire could spread to tussock and grass above the tree and cause a problem.

He said the actions of the "silly people" who lit the fireworks had cost the department thousands of dollars, including a helicopter for several hours, to fight the fire.

- NZPA