Rotorua Fire and Emergency warns of fire risk in dry conditions

Rotorua and Taupō firefighters want people to be aware of fire restrictions and potential dangers as dry conditions and strong winds increase the risks.

It comes after three helicopters were used to fight a 19ha scrub fire in the Tahorakuri Forest area near Reporoa on Wednesday.

Bay of Plenty Fire and Emergency group manager Paul Glanville said on Friday the Te Toke Rd fire started as a rubbish fire that accidentally got out of control.

“Fires are restricted in the Taupō area due to dry conditions, and vegetation can catch fire very easily, which is what happened here.”

He said permits from Fire and Emergency New Zealand were required for outdoor fires.

Firefighters were still at the scene on Friday working with a tanker and heavy machinery to dampen hotspots, check the firebreak and monitor weather conditions.

Ngongotahā Volunteer Fire Brigade fire chief Tai Thompson said another example of the dangers was an incident in December when strong winds caused powerlines to arc in Ngongotahā.

Sparks flew into vegetation, resulting in half a dozen scrub fires in two or three days, he said.

In December, temperatures reached a record high of 34.8C in the forestry town of Kawerau. For nearby Rotorua, MetService records show wind gusts peaked at 72km/h and temperatures reached as high as 26.4C during the same month.

The Bay of Plenty was classified as a restricted fire area as of January 9.

Thompson said this meant a permit was required when lighting fires in a yellow or restricted zone. Permits could be applied for on the Fire and Emergency checkitsalright.nz website.

“When we have a lot of wind, that can cause power lines to arc or knock together, causing sparks, which, when it’s dry, can spark fires.

“It’s rural, it can be residential scrub and dried grass as well.”

Fire crews battle a fire in the Tahorakuri Forest area. Photo / Fire and Emergency

The Ngongotahā brigade had nine members and when needed, it called on other Rotorua stations, including Lake Ōkāreka, Lake Tarawera, Ōkere Falls and Mamaku, Thompson said.

“We have a water tanker on our station, but if we need more water, then we’ll get another water tanker, usually from Lake Ōkāreka.”

The Rotorua brigade serviced the metropolitan area and supported rural brigades, he said.

Thompson said callouts this season had been “okay”, with not too many for non-permitted fires.

He encouraged anyone interested in joining the Ngongotahā fire brigade to get in touch with him.

Due to volunteer firefighters retiring or moving out of the region, “we are looking for more volunteers”.

“It’s a good time to get involved and we’re keen to take on a few more members if they want to do something different for their community.”

Ngongotahā Volunteer Fire Brigade station officer Tai Thompson (from left), deputy chief fire officer Rhys Leeke and firefighter Ricardo Wallace pictured in 2019. Photo / Shauni James

Cultural fires do not require a permit

A spokesman for the Rotorua fire station said only ”hāngī fires” could be lit without a permit in restricted fire zones.

“Any fires, other than cultural fires, should not be lit within the Rotorua area and that includes urban or rural.

“A permit is needed for any other fires,” he said.

Residents who wanted to burn rubbish were advised to take it to the tip instead.

When people in Rotorua burned rubbish, smoke could become a nuisance for neighbours.

“With the winds that we’ve been getting it doesn’t take long to get into other areas,” he said.

Permits were needed for bonfires too.

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“I urge anyone who thinks they are going to light a fire for rubbish to take it to the tip,” he said.

“Absolutely no fires now because it is just too dry.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council regulatory compliance manager Stephen Mellor said only Fire and Emergency could declare fire seasons or issue permits, but permitted fires still needed to comply with council rules.

“In both urban and rural areas, outdoor fires cannot be lit within 100m of a neighbouring dwelling unless specific exemptions apply.”

These exemptions included braziers, barbecues, pizza ovens, smokers, and hāngī, “as long as smoke emissions are not offensive”, Thompson said.

Staying ‘vigilant’: ‘No one ever expects a fire’

Rotorua Rail Cruising co-owners Helen Nicholls and Aidan Ashmore with Rotorua MP Todd McClay (left) at the blessing of the reopening of the Ngongotahā-to-Tarukenga rail line.

Rotorua Rail Cruising co-owner Aidan Ashmore maintains 174ha of land in Ngongotahā.

He said it was necessary to be “vigilant” during fire season and recommended people had a “fire plan and practised their emergency procedures”.

“Fires can happen at any time and no one ever expects a fire.”

The business owner said weather conditions around the rail line on Mt Ngongotahā were dry and potential fires were a concern.

“There’s always a risk, especially when you have spraying or something like that, you’ve got dead plants that are dry.

“If somebody doesn’t listen and starts to light up a cigarette and ends up flicking it over at the cars, there’s a really good chance there could be a fire, for sure.”

Ashmore said his team of nine kept a fire extinguisher in all Rail Cruising cars.

“We have something like 26 fire extinguishers, it’s overkill but we’re prepared."

He said it was important to have the right extinguisher for the type of fire – for example, a foam extinguisher for a petrol blaze.

Fire and Emergency’s website checkitsalright.nz provides information on how to stay safe and further tips about lighting recreational and cultural fires in public spaces.

Aleyna Martinez is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. She moved to the region in 2024 and has previously reported in Wairarapa and at Pacific Media Network.