FIRE DANGER: Members of Taupo Volunteer Rural Fire Force work on extinguishing a fire on Paritaniwha Rd at Whakamaru. TMO 06Mar14 - 060314twfiredanger FIRE DANGER: Members of Taupo Volunteer Rural
FIRE DANGER: Members of Taupo Volunteer Rural Fire Force work on extinguishing a fire on Paritaniwha Rd at Whakamaru. TMO 06Mar14 - 060314twfiredanger FIRE DANGER: Members of Taupo Volunteer Rural
Wairarapa Rural Fire District's principal rural fire officer says a generally wetter and colder summer has seen less fire notifications in the 2013-2014 season, with 287 notifications as opposed to 300.
In the district's newsletter to June, Phill Wishnowsky said in 2012-2013, fire conditions were extreme for a long period.However, the storms over May 24/25 bumped up notifications, including 30 firefighters battling a blaze in a two-story barn at Whangaehu Valley.
The barn was lost but a historic homestead and woolshed were saved after a four-hour fight.
Mr Wishnowsky said a large number of fires have been the result of "controlled" burns, rubbish piles and holes, getting out of control.
This year to June, rural firefighters have attended 10 motor vehicle crashes, 13 vegetation fires, eight medical assists, two powerline callouts and four "special assists" for earthquake, horse and wind damage.
