Fires take deadly toll on DoC land

This car started a fire in the Te Paki reserve when it crashed down a bank and burst into flames, burning more than 233ha of regenerating bush. Picture / Doug Te Wake

Two big fires in three days on Department of Conservation estates in Northland have burned through more than 430ha of ecologically significant wildlife and vegetation habitat.

The fierce fires, fanned by strong, dry winds, have also stretched DoC staff and resources in the region.

The blaze on Friday in the 18,878ha Te Paki reserve south of Cape Reinga, which started when a car crashed and burst into flames, burned more than 233ha of regenerating bush, kanuka and manuka before fire crews, five helicopters with monsoon buckets, bulldozers and diggers managed to contain it.

"It went through a lot of sloping terrain and steep-sided gullies, making a high level of fitness required by fire crews and help from helicopters necessary," said DoC spokesman Reuben Williams yesterday.

At one stage about 38 people were stranded in private cars at Cape Reinga when the fire jumped the highway. People were asked to stay in the lighthouse carpark until firefighters had contained the blaze.

The group, with campers from DoC-run campgrounds at nearby Tapotupotu and Kapowairua (Spirits Bay), were later escorted out by police.

State Highway 1F to Cape Reinga was closed 16km to the south at Te Paki but reopened on Saturday afternoon. Both campgrounds were also open again yesterday.

Parts of the Te Paki reserve contain rare and endangered trees, plants and birds.

As ground crews mopped up hot spots there yesterday, Mr Williams said it was too early to say what effect the blaze had had on significant species.

Field staff would have to go into the area when it cooled "and do some serious monitoring".

But the stand of 31 unique bartlett's rata was spared by the flames.

In the Wednesday fire, on the 3000ha Kaimaumau wetland reserve 30km north of Kaitaia, 122ha was burned in the ecologically important gumfield area.

DoC staff were still assessing damage in the reserve, where a number of big fires have started on the peat soils in hot, dry weather.

Mr Williams said fire crews would be relieved to go home last night. Some DoC staff from Whangarei had not been home since Wednesday. They had been preparing to leave but were called out again on Friday to Te Paki when a car with a couple and a young child, believed to be tourists, left the road and crashed near Pandora's Track.

The car went down a bank, hit manuka and caught fire, setting alight hectares of dry, regenerating bush and manuka. The car's occupants escaped unhurt.

* Exhausted Northland firefighters were faced with another blaze yesterday, extinguishing a wildfire that destroyed more than 200ha of regenerating native bush.

Northern region Fire Commander Trevor Andrews told NZPA a fire started near Paihia when power lines blew down on dry grass.

Rural fire units from three districts were battling the blaze and Mr Williams said no health and safety issues had arisen.

Threatened

In the 18,878ha Te Paki reserve:

* A unique stand of bartlett's rata.
* Mature kauri.
* Native kauri and flax snails.
* Kukupa (wood pigeon).

In the 3000ha Kaimaumau wetland reserve:

* Mudfish and green geckos.
* Fernbirds.
* Native orchids and fern types.