Homes in a remote Hawkes Bay farming community were evacuated yesterday after a farmer dug up jars of phosphorus, sending plumes of toxic smoke over the area.
The farmer found about 20 jars containing white sticks of phosphorus powder while using a digger on land off State Highway 5, north of
Napier.
He alerted police and the Fire Service after he accidentally broke a jar, igniting an intense fire that sent up smoke billowing towards the road, about 200m away.
Sergeant Graham Single of Napier police said there were no reports of danger to traffic.
Houses downwind of the smoke were evacuated immediately and the Army told residents they could not return until the fire was completely out.
They took shelter at a neighbouring farm.
As the fire continued to burn last night, additional firefighters, with breathing apparatus, were called.
Mr Single said an ambulance crew treated people who had had minor contact with the smoke.
"The biggest concern is with sparks from the fire making contact with skin, because phosphorus continues to burn as long as there is air."
He said the phosphorus was probably buried at a time when farmers used it to kill rabbits.
- NZPA
