Motorists alert hay truck driver to burning load

A fireman works to extinguish burning hay bales after they were dumped from a truck on farmland. Photo / Northern Advocate

Motorists on State Highway One made several 111 calls after seeing a truck carrying burning hay bales just south of Whangarei.

Motorists waved down the single-trailer truck near Northland Helicopters at Otaika on Lookout Hill at about midday on Saturday after noticing it being driven with a burning load.

Whangarei Fire Station Officer Paul Ballantine said the driver dumped the burning hay on to farmland. Two fire crews took about 90 minutes to douse the flames.

Mr Ballantine said it was possible the fire had been started by a hot exhaust pipe.

The fire damaged the truck's battery box and mudguards. Highway traffic was slowed while the fire was being put out and police were called. About 80 of the 180 hay bales in the load were destroyed.

In another fire-related incident, Kaikohe man was taken to hospital with burns and suffering the effects of smoke inhalation after leaving cooking unattended on a stove.

A passer-by saw smoke coming from under the eaves of the Upper Broadway home about 5.30pm on Friday.

But by the time the volunteer brigade arrived the fire was out.

Chief Fire Officer Bill Hutchinson said there had been a rash of kitchen fires over the past three months.