Wind fans scrub fire

FIRE CONTROLLED: Volunteer firefighters from six stations prevented the South Head fire from spreading through the rest of the plantation.

WATER DROP: More than 100,000 litres of water helped put out a three-hectare South Head fire on Sunday morning.

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Firefighters flocked from around Rodney and North Shore to a huge three hectare scrub fire west of Helensville on Sunday morning.

More than 100,000 litres of water from eight fire appliances, two tankers and a helicopter with a monsoon water bucket were dumped over seven-and-a-half hours on a Higham Rd property to suppress flames.

A controlled fire was lit around 9am on the South Head property, but within 15 minutes the wind direction changed and it jumped into a pine plantation, Rodney principal rural fire officer Scott Marchant says.

"At that point the property owner called us. The extreme wind conditions were fanning the fire. We had appliances from Shelly Beach, Helensville, Kumeu, Silverdale, Muriwai and Kaukapakapa, as well as a command unit from Auckland. It's the biggest scrub fire we have seen in a long time."

Mr Marchant says firefighters were working at each fire flank wetting and foaming surrounds to prevent the fire spreading.

"The volunteers did a great job in containing the fire. It had potential to spread to the rest of the plantation but they prevented that," he says.

"The owner was pretty upset and gutted about the situation. When he lit the fire the wind was coming from one direction, but the wind changed and so did the fire.

"As in any rural case the owner has to take responsibility for the fire," says Mr Marchant.

"There could be costs that need to be recovered. Any costs the Rodney District Council incurs for the suppression of the fire, which includes appliances, pumps, the helicopter, are all contracted to the council. Unfortunately, that won't be cheap."

It is still an open fire season, and restrictions and permits are not compulsory until December 1.

"If you are going to light a fire, do it in an open paddock away from any bush or forest," says Mr Marchant.

"Don't light a fire right next to a pine plantation."

- © Fairfax NZ News