Whitianga fire ‘hot, fast and intense’

Thames Valley principal rural fire officer Paul Shaw says the massive blaze which broke out just south of Whitianga on Tuesday highlight why there is a total fire ban on the Coromandel during summer. Photos TCDC.

Fire crews at the Comers Road bush fire south of Whitianga are damping down the many remaining hot spots but have the fire well contained.

Police and fire investigators are heading to the scene of the fire between Coroglen and Kaimarama today to determine the cause of the massive scrub fire which broke out on Tuesday afternoon.

Three helicopters have been at work dousing hot spots with water, and about 65 fire fighters remain at the scene. One helicopter will leave later today while the other two will remain.

Three more fire crews from Auckland have also been dispatched to the scene to relieve some of the tired fire fighters who've been working non-stop since Tuesday afternoon.

Thames Valley principal rural fire officer Paul Shaw, who's fought the fire since it broke out, described the blaze as 'hot, fast and intense” when it was at its peak.

'This is a prime example of why we have a Total Fire Ban across the Coromandel during the summer. This shows how damaging a fire in the bush can be.”

Four more houses were evacuated on Wednesday night as a precaution when it looked like the wind would shift, but the residents were later allowed to return to their homes.

The fire burnt through about 100 hectares of land. Two houses have been confirmed burnt down, as well as an unconfirmed number of other structures. The Wilderland Sustainable Community was also badly damaged.

Thames-Coromandel Mayor Sandra Goudie has visited the scene of the fire and is appealing to locals and visitors to the peninsula to heed the total fire ban.

'If you don't heed the fire ban you're putting lives and property at risk.”

The Thames-Coromandel District Council has set up a Mayoral fund to take donations to help those affected by the fire. The ANZ account number is 01 0455 0090620 01.

A former Wilderland resident has also set up a Give a Little page to raise funds for the centre for education in sustainable living. To make a donation visit: givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/wilderlandfire

A TCDC spokesperson says anyone who has been affected by the fire but hasn't already registered for assistance can still do so by contacting:

  • Thames-Coromandel District Council – Customer Services 07 868 0200
  • Ministry Social Development (MSD) – 0800 559 009 for general enquiries
  • Whitianga Social Services – Jenny Wolf 07 866 4476 between 9am and 5pm


Thames-Coromandel Mayor Sandra Goudie with people affected by the massive fire which broke out south of Whitianga on Tuesday.

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