An out-of-control bush fire has engulfed 400ha of Tongariro National Park, with trampers being airlifted out from the Tongariro Crossing.
Fire crews and helicopters were fighting the blaze, first reported to Fire and Emergency New Zealand at 3.15pm, but had to monitor the situation overnight as it was too dangerous for active firefighting.
Assistant Commander Nick West said conditions were easing, but a wind shift was forecast at about midnight, pushing the direction of the fire’s travel further to the north in the direction of SH46.
Forty-three people and wardens at Maungatepopo Hut have been flown to safety, Department of Conservation (DoC) central North Island operations director Damian Coutts said.
“DoC staff are providing welfare at Whakapapa Village. We have not had any reports of anyone being injured,” Coutts said.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Northern Circuit are currently impacted and will remain closed on Sunday.
The fire had not reached any tracks or huts, Coutts said.
Fire and Emergency said if people are aware of friends or family who were planning to be on the Tongariro Crossing or the general area of SH47 and the Maungatepopo Hut, they should try to get in touch with them and confirm their whereabouts.
If contact cannot be made, they are advised to call 111 and tell the police.
State Highway 47 will stay closed between the intersections with SH48 and SH46 and no detour is available.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area or delay travel until detours are available.
“Crews from six fire brigades plus a command unit are at the scene or on their way and three helicopters with monsoon buckets are working, with a fourth being used for aerial observation,” Fire and Emergency said in a statement.
A no-fly zone was put in place, covering the fire ground and surrounding area, while Fire and Emergency said crews to tackle the flames will be on the ground at first light supported by six helicopters and two fixed wing aircraft.
It is not yet known how the inferno started.
Colin Baker, who owns and operates Ruapehu Scenic Shuttles, told the Herald the fire appeared to be spreading quickly through the dense bush towards the Mangatepopo valley.
Baker said he first saw the fire, which he described as being big at the time, at about 3pm and alerted Fire and Emergency.
“It was originally about 200 by 100 metres, kind of area and it just it’s just expanded”, he said.
“It was at the side of the road initially.”
Baker, who said he used to work in the fire brigade, described the blaze as concerning, “it’s going to be a really difficult one to get under control”, he said, because of the dense bush and hot, windy conditions.
“The last several days it has been really dry and the sun is so vicious this year ... now we’ve got a big fire”, he said.
“That’s a worst-nightmare fire.”
Wendy Smit, who hiked the Tongariro Crossing yesterday, said the fire was still raging hours after her group of 10 finished.
“We started at 8am and we finished about 4pm, and then we when we drove out, the fire had just started next to the road.
“And we saw about three fire trucks out, then went home to our lodge, had a shower, went for dinner, and it’s just raging.
“It’s just not stopping, it’s pretty scary.”
Smit said she spoke to a group of 20 hikers who had been rescued by helicopter from the blaze this evening.
“They showed us some photos and helicopter footage from their phones and said it was just surreal, like they couldn’t believe that they were being evacuated and that it was real.
“But then when they had to turn around on the crossing, because they started at 4pm and they were planning on finishing at midnight, they got evacuated at 7pm.
“They could just see fires, you know, glowing in the distance and then they all got evacuated.”
Smit told the Herald she understood at least 13 crews and multiple helicopters were working to extinguish the blaze. She is preparing with her group to evacuate during the night if the fire continues to grow.
“There’s no wind at least, like it’s pretty calm, but it’s like a glowing red cloud.
“It kind of looks like a volcano, but it’s not, you know, it’s the fire.”