700ha of forest razed in Otago blaze

BY WILMA MCCORKINDALE IN DUNEDIN

A change in the wind and a drop in temperature have been welcomed as a large forestry fire northwest of Dunedin continues into its second night tonight.

Eight people from five homes have been evacuated and up to another 20 cautioned they may need to move if the fire moves closer.

David Cormack, chief of Wenita Forest Products, who own the foresty block where the fire is raging, said: "It certainly wasn't very favourable conditions for us between 12.30pm and 5pm today when the wind really got up. But things look as though they're improving."

Services have spent the day holding the fire at bay. By about 4pm today it had burnt 700 hectares of forestry.

Mr Cormack said the company was continuing with plans to launch a chemical assault using an aeroplane. The scenario remained too dangerous for ground fire crews at this stage.

"We're looking at getting a fixed wing aircraft into operation to lay down some fire retardant that can help contain the fire.

"It's a well proven method."

Up to ten helicopters have been used to attack the flanks of the inferno with monsoon buckets.

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Dunedin City Council civil defence and rural fires manager Neil Brown said five homes in total - an additional two this afternoon - were voluntarily evacuated today. They were about 5 kilometres from the blaze, and homeowners volunteered to move after they were told of the risks.

No further homes were expected to be evacuated, but another 10-20 homes south of the Taieri Plains had been notified, and identified as potentially needing to move if the fire - which broke out yesterday afternoon, in Wenita's Mt Allan forest - worsened.

''There is no threat to houses at the moment, but we are taking a precautionary approach to it,'' Brown said.

''We are very confident that we won't need any more evacuations, but we could be wrong so we have the plan in place if that's the case.''

An incident control team of about four people were positioned in a command vehicle on a high point monitoring the fire overnight.  Another assessment of the situation would be made about 6.30am tomorrow, Brown said.

However, improved weather conditions, such as lower humidity and wind, were needed before it was safe to attack the flames to put them out.

''It's one of the most complicated fires because of the terrain. There's so much fuel, with the forestry, so it's going to burn much stronger.''

This afternoon the blaze was about 4-5km from power lines, but if they caught fire, Dunedin would still be supplied with power from its other lines, Brown said.

The Taieri George Train decided against running today after fire crossed its railway lines at some point. He was unsure if it would run tomorrow.

A cluster of services have rallied to fight the blaze including staff from Dunedin City and neighbouring Clutha and Southland councils, the department of Conservation, Civil Defence, and Police. The New Zealand Fire Service was providing logistic and communication support. DOC statistics would also calculate the direction of the fire, and the speeds it would travel.

No one had been hurt as a result of the fire, but walking tracks in the surrounding area had been closed as a precaution.

"We can't at the moment attack the front of the fire where it's going forwards into new material. It's too hot and too thick with smoke - too unpredictable," Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown said the fire was burning southwards, fanned by hot, dry northerly winds. Ground crews were as yet unable to go in to the scene.

"It's not safe or easy because of the topography and lack of access roads and because of safety," Mr Brown said.

Most currently working on the ground were site managers, coordinating the aerial operations.

A cluster of services rallied to fight the blaze including staff from Dunedin City and neighbouring Clutha councils, the department of Conservation, Civil Defence, and Police. The New Zealand Fire Service was providing logistical and communication support.

The fire broke out around 4pm yesterday afternoon in a cut-over block that had already been logged just above the Taieri River at Mt Allen and spread into neighbouring stands of trees.

A sparked caused by friction from a logging haul rope started the fire, Mr Cormack said.

It was too soon to estimate the financial losses, he said. However, he had advised the New Zealand-based Chinese owners of the forestry.

"The directors are obviously concerned as any owner would be if their forest had a fire in it. It's something you never want to be facing."

-with MICHELLE SUTTON

- D Scene