Cause of rural scrub fires scrutinised

STEEP HIT: A scrub fire which has burnt a 800m stretch of the Opaki Kaiparoro Rd, is the second fire on the road in a week. PHOTOS/ALISA YONG

Firecrews have been called to a roadside scrub fire in Mauriceville for the second time in a week.

Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer Grant Detheridge-Davies said when firecrews arrived at the blaze on Opaki Kaiparoro Rd yesterday morning, it stretched 800m along the bank.

"It was burning very well at both ends. It was pretty intense and it was fanned along by strong winds."

The fire extended about 200m up the bank, he said.

"They managed to stop it just before it got into a block of bush, which was quite a good save."

A similar fire had taken place about 5km further up the same road last Thursday, Mr Detheridge-Davies said.

"It's the second one within seven days. We aren't too sure if it's just the dry weather ... [they were] basically exactly the same."

Crews from Mauriceville, Eketahuna, Masterton, a tanker from Carterton and a forestry crew worked to extinguish the fire, with members of the forestry crew staying behind until about 11am to mop up hotspots.

The cause of both fires was unknown, but may have been caused by a cigarette butt or a hot exhaust igniting fuel on the side of the road, Mr Detheridge-Davies said.

"People have to be cautious with anything that goes out the window. Anything that has the potential to start a fire - people have to take some responsibility. It's a habit to just flick it out the window."

The causes of both fires are being investigated.