Firefighters welcome heavy rain

Far North principal rural fire officer Lance Johnston had his best night's sleep in a week last night as steady rain fell on the tinder dry region.

Heavy rain swept across Northland, Auckland and much of the upper North Island yesterday.

Mr Johnston said the rain had reduced the immediate risk of fire but did not mean people could relax. It was the first serious rainfall since before Christmas.

Until yesterday volunteer firefighters had been battling numerous fires as warm temperatures and high winds sucked moisture out of the ground and scrub and pushed the fire risk to extreme.

Mr Johnston said while the rain had eased the risk slightly, it would take only a day or two of high temperatures and winds to push the risk back to the extreme level.

The restricted fire ban would stay and Mr Johnston warned people not to throw cigarette buts out of car windows and take extreme care with naked flames.

He said even an empty bottle lying among dry grass on the side of the road could magnify the sun's rays and start a fire.

"Maybe it's time to start to think about being tidy Kiwis for once and keep their rubbish inside their vehicles."

A big blaze at Mangonui was thought to have been started by a discarded cigarette and Mr Johnston said as they walked the roads looking for a cause they were amazed at the number of cigarette butts lying around.

"When we saw the number of cigarette butts it was just amazing along one stretch of road."

Crews were due to return to Mangonui and Onekura Road near Kerikeri today to check for hot spots. The Onekura Road fire was burning for several days as embers flared up in the scrub and felled trees.

Mr Johnston said Far North volunteer firefighters were very tired by yesterday but without them and co-operative employers who released them on fire calls, they would be in serious trouble.

"We have had very good support and have been able to get the crews out during the day which is critical."

He said employers who released their staff on volunteer duty deserved full praise.

"It is a sign of the commitment of the community towards volunteerism. Without our volunteers we are buggered, and that goes for just about every emergency management activity -- fire, ambulance, the whole lot."

He said the fire risk would be monitored daily.

- NZPA