Firefighters checking for hotspots after Whanganui’s South Mole fire, Fire and Emergency NZ advise public to stay clear

One Fire and Emergency NZ crew remained on the scene of a scrub fire at Whanganui’s South Mole on Tuesday morning to check for remaining hotspots.

Fire crews had contained the 6ha scrub fire, which began around 8pm Sunday, in the early hours of Monday morning.

title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/large-scrub-fire-at-whanganuis-south-mole-contained-by-fire-crews/3HTVKZAPERGFZN53IEBOQD6HE4/">One helicopter supported 10 ground vehicles from Whanganui, Koitiata, Manawatū and Palmerston North Volunteer Fire Brigade on Monday to extinguish the fire.

Fire and Emergency dispatcher Becca Jennings said aircraft operations ceased around 3.30pm on Monday.

“They were making one final patrol before they demobilised all the equipment,” she said.

Jennings said the advice from Fire and Emergency was for the public to avoid the area until it is deemed safe.

“Stay away for the time being, just in case,” Jennings said.

An investigation into the cause is ongoing.

Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.