An investigation is underway into the cause of the massive scrub fire which broke out on Mauao in Mount Maunganui overnight.
NZ Fire Service incident control point officer Richard Moreland says the cause of the scrub fire, which ignited at about 12am is still unknown, despite reports it was caused by a flare.
About 40,000 litres of water has been used by helicopters on the Mauao fore. Photo: Tracy Hardy.
'At this stage the fire is still being investigated and there is no update as to what has caused the fire,” adds Richard.
At its height, the fire is said to have measured between 800-900sqm and saw some 40 firefighters working hard to bring it under control.
More than 40,000 litres of water from monsoon buckets have since been dropped on the blaze by helicopters coordinated by the NZ Fire Service and Tauranga City Council Parks & Recreation staff.
The water drops have now stopped, and firefighters and Department of Conservation staff are now on Mauao assessing the situation.
They are also checking fire areas and hotpots using thermal equipment.
If needed helicopters will recommence spreading water onto any areas needing dampening down.
The fire presents no current or foreseen threat to Beachside Holiday Park occupants.
The helicopters have been filling monsoon buckets from the firefighting water line on Mauao, which permits the helicopters to fill their buckets closer to the fire location and therefore contain the fire faster. The water line brings water from the main reserve on the east side of the Mount and feeds a number of hydro points.
At this stage, Tauranga City Council says all tracks on Mauao remain closed.
Adams Avenue is re-opened to traffic, but tracks around the Mount will remain closed until tomorrow until the city council has information about rock fall risks, and to ensure that are no flare-ups of the scrubfire.
A decision about re-opening Mauao tracks will be made at mid-day Friday. Security guards will remain onsite to prevent people accessing the mountain overnight - and to ensure public safety.
14 comments
Salt water?
Posted on 14-01-2016 12:48 | By Murray.Guy
Curious as to why the monsoon buckets don't fill from the sea.
Fireworks
Posted on 14-01-2016 14:59 | By Jitter
Could have been a stray firework/rocket ! There are lots still being let off all over the place every night. There should be a ban on them immediately after Nov 5 and New Years Eve.
Murray Guy
Posted on 14-01-2016 20:20 | By FunandGames
At the last fire or maybe the one before, the greenies objected to scooping sea water. Something about the fish caught in the bucket getting BBQed
@Murray.Guy
Posted on 14-01-2016 22:14 | By The Caveman
Yes you are right to ask the question, try fire fighting in Aussie, The choppers will take water from ANY source - fire service from the local street supply, the local farmers dam, the nearest river, or if on the coast the SEA.
Hmmmm
Posted on 15-01-2016 00:18 | By How about this view!
I thought that we (ratepayers) spent many thousands of dollars on fire safety measures after the last major incident. One of which was a water supply for firefighting. Do we now find that it was another waste of time, effort and money or will the committee of experts that will be established to investigate this, on behalf of the owners, DEMAND more funding to protect a hill covered in weeds??
for starters
Posted on 15-01-2016 07:03 | By Capt_Kaveman
its THE MOUNT and what does silt water do to most plants?? there should be camera watching every exit from thios mountain as 90% of all the fires are started by some lowlife
@ Murray.Guy
Posted on 15-01-2016 09:00 | By Bay Citizen
Large amounts of salt water is bad for plants. You'd probably kill the ones that weren't damaged in the fire, and prevent the regrowth of vegetation.
@ How about this view!
Posted on 15-01-2016 09:07 | By Bay Citizen
Even excluding all the amenity and cultural value of Mauao, is your knowledge of plants and ecology so limited as to describe it as a "hill covered in weeds"?
An idea
Posted on 15-01-2016 12:54 | By yourthumb
How can we be sure that this fire was not caused by lava?
@Bay Citizen...
Posted on 15-01-2016 13:25 | By Jimmy Ehu
then why have the anti round up group not used your theory as a alternate weed control plan, surely our "chopper" pilots are skilled enough to drop the majority of sea water on what is already burning rather than vegetation on the other side of the hill!!!, nope I like the fish on the fire scenario better, but can we have the correct answer to Murrays question please?.
Filling Monsoon
Posted on 15-01-2016 17:52 | By whataplace
There are a few reason's why they didn't dip out of the sea for this fire. Firstly the monsoon filling point was closer to the fire, than the sea therefore quicker turn around, therefore dropping more loads which stops the spread quicker. They can also add a foam or retardent if filled from fresh water which they couldn't do if using seawater. So the fresh water main worked as planned and if you ask the fire-fighters who are the ones that put the fires out, worth every penny!
@ muzza
Posted on 15-01-2016 20:51 | By Bop man
Could it be that 1. loading a monsoon bucket from the sea is more dangerous and 2. the Salt water can not be good on the equipment that cost thousands of dollars, just like salt water is harsh on all equipment.
@ Jimmy
Posted on 15-01-2016 22:43 | By Bay Citizen
Because, as I already explained, excess salt in the soil will hinder vegetation regrowth in areas that have been burned. Salt is occasionally used as an alternative to Round Up, but the issue is that we normally want to kill weeds and have more useful plants grow in their place, not just wreck the soil for all vegetation for a long period.
Jimmy
Posted on 18-01-2016 13:20 | By Crash test dummies
The answer to Murray is simple, the salt water will inhibited the regrowth that will happen after the fore is out. Murray is obviously having a bad day, week or maybe year?
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