'Connected' fires destroy fences, grass

WARWICK SMITH/Manawatu Standard

UNIMPRESSED: Rex Fell surveys the damage to his brother's property after suspicious fires burnt along the fenceline on Tiakitahuna Rd and No.1 Line.

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Native grasses, trees and fences were destroyed during a series of suspicious fires in rural Manawatu.

Three stretches of toetoe grass on the corner of Tiakitahuna Rd and No1 Line, near Palmerston North, were set alight about 9.45pm on Saturday.

The three fires damaged about 120 metres of toetoe, a native grass that can grow up to three metres high, and thousands of dollars worth of fencing.

About 10pm on Saturday, another 20-metre section of toetoe, fencing and trees was set alight on Kairanga Bunnythorpe Rd, near Bunnythorpe.

Firefighters and water tankers from Palmerston North, Longburn, Ohakea and Linton were called to the first fire, while Bunnythorpe, Bulls and Linton firefighters battled the second.

Detective Sergeant Gary Milligan said police were investigating the fires as suspicious.

"They are of a nuisance value for emergency services and it's just irresponsible."

The timeframe and close proximity of the fires meant police were confident they were connected, Mr Milligan said.

Deputy principal rural fire officer Tony Groome said toetoe was difficult to put out because it was dry and light on top but heavy and thick on the ground.

A digger was brought in to help the firefighters, he said

"What happens is underneath these toetoe it's really dense, so the only way you can put the flames out is to dig it up and then put them out.

"They take a lot of water and a lot of resources."

The Tiakitahuna fire took about four hours to dampen down, while the Bunnythorpe fire took about three hours, he said.

Mr Groome said there was a spate of similar fires in Manawatu about five years ago, but the culprit was caught.

Rex Fell, whose brother owns the property that was torched on Tiakitahuna Rd, was less than impressed with whoever set the fires. "It is the second time they've done it, the bastards. This happened about four or five years ago."

Mr Fell said nearby horses were quickly moved when the flames were spotted.

It would cost about $10,000 to replace the fencing, which had only recently been upgraded.

Palmerston North Senior Fire Station Officer Graeme Mills said a big concern with toetoe fires was nearby powerlines being damaged, but none was damaged at the weekend.

Anyone with information can contact the Palmerston North police station on 3513600 or the confidential crimeline 0800808585.

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