Staff and volunteers from three agencies were called to deal with reports of a potential illegal fire in the Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve last weekend.
The Department of Conservation received reports that campers were about to light a campfire in Wairua Bay on the shores of Lake Tarawera.
Camping is strictly prohibited in Wairua Bay and there is an extreme fire risk in the area, DoC ranger Paul Cashmore said. "Given there was an extreme fire risk in the outlying areas of Rotorua over the weekend, it was plausible that a campfire could have gotten out of hand, especially when alcohol consumption is a factor.
"There is a lot of dry kanuka forest in the Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve, which allows fire to spread rapidly out of control."
Given the extreme fire risk, DoC acted on the report immediately and were supported by Rotorua Lakes Council and West Rotoiti volunteer fire crew.