25 Feb 2010
A blaze northwest of Dunedin has engulfed more than 700 ha of a cut-over Wenita forestry block just above the Taieri River at Mt Allen, according to a report in the Southland Times.
Wenita Forest Products chief David Cormack said a spark caused by friction from a logging haul rope started the fire on Tuesday afternoon.Ten helicopters have been in the air attacking the flanks of the fire with monsoon buckets for the past two days since it broke out. The scene remained too dangerous for ground fire crews at this stage, he said.
At a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Dunedin City Council civil defence and rural fire manager Neil Brown said five homes had been evacuated as a precautionary measure. Up to another 20 have been cautioned they might need to move if the fire moves closer, Mr Brown said.
It had been a complicated fire because of the terrain, and the forest had fuelled it, he said. Dunedin City Council and neighbouring Clutha and Southland district councils, the Department of Conservation, Civil Defence and police were involved in fighting the blaze.The New Zealand Fire Service was providing logistic and communication support.
Mr Cormack said it was too soon for Wenita Forest Products to begin estimating its financial losses as a result of the fire.
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Source: Southland Times
