Fire destroys plastics factory in Otaki

Firefighters from all around Horowhenua, Kapiti and Wellington were this morning fighting a massive blaze at a plastic recycling factory in Otaki.

The blaze is the latest in a string of fires that have stretched firefighting resources around the country over the weekend.

About 50 firefighters and 15 fire appliances were called to the Otaki blaze in Miro St at 4.09am.

Crews from Otaki and nearby Levin, Waikanae, Paraparaumu, and Waitarere were called as well as from Lower Hutt and Wellington, which brought specialised high-rise "snorkel" equipment to reach the centre of the fire, and other equipment for filling breathing apparatus cylinders.

Firefighters were expected to remain through the day but the fire had been brought under control, Wellington area deputy chief fire officer John Jackson said from the scene.

"It's totally destroyed the factory but we've got it under control now and we've protected the buildings around it."

Mr Jackson said some crews would stay through the day

He said the fire was "substantial" and at its peak could be seen from Waikanae, up to 15km away.

The Otaki fire overnight comes after a string of suspicious fires further south in Lower Hutt overnight from Saturday to Sunday.

The first of the Lower Hutt fires overnight from Saturday burned an industrial area of Korokoro Hill near State Highway 2.

The second fire burned a large section of bush on the Lower Hutt side of Wainuiomata Hill and reduced traffic on Wainuiomata Hill Rd to one lane.

Two smaller fires were also reported on Marine Parade on Petone's waterfront and at Taita Cemetery.

A fire service spokesman said all the Lower Hutt fires were now out and no crews remained there.

A Wellington police communications spokeswoman today told NZPA there had been no progress with the investigation into the Lower Hutt fires.

In Northland firefighters spent the night dampening down a large scrub fire at Mangonui and kept an eye on a smouldering fire at Onekura Road, north west of Kerikeri.

Principal rural fire officer for the Far North District Council, Lance Johnston, said today the Mangonui fire which covered 20ha was all but out but another fire in scrubby bush and undergrowth at Onekura Road was still giving trouble after burning for several days.

He said the restricted fire season which meant no one could light fires without a permit, would be reviewed over the next few days to see if a complete fire ban was justified.

However, he said the area needed rain urgently to reduce the risk.

Mr Johnston also warned of the folly of throwing cigarette butts out car windows, believed to be the cause of the Mangonui fire.

He said about 12 to 15 fires in the last few days were stretching firefighting resources in the area and everyone needed to take extreme care.

He said the fire risk was not helped by Transit New Zealand's policy of spraying road edges which left a lot of dead and dry weeds on the side of the roads.

"When you walk along where this (the Mangonui fire) started from, there is an amazing number of cigarette butts.

"People just biff them out of the window and for the majority of the year it is fine but it is just too risky to do that."

Mr Johnston said the area had not had a decent rainfall to reduce the risk since a small fall just after Christmas.

"It really didn't do a lot. We have had that much wind and hot sun since then it evaporated that pretty smartly.

"Bring on the rain, that is what we need up here.

"We are needing a reasonable dousing of water, that is for sure."

Mr Johnston said people needed to be extremely cautious about lighting even a small rubbish fire.

"The grass is so dry if they think they can stop it when it flares up and there is a bit of wind around, they are dreaming because it moves so quickly."

He said some of the areas were now considered to be extreme fire risks.

- NZPA