Fire in remote bush

A fire burning in mature native forest in a remote area inland from Stratford is testing Department of Conservation firefighters.

Crews have been flown in to fight the blaze near Aotuhia, and helicopters with monsoon buckets have been flying between there and the Whanganui River.

Nick Peat, DoC Wanganui area manager, said the fire had burned some private land and the Whangamomona conservation area. It was unusual for a fire to burn in the area because it was usually damp.