Fire blackens two hectares

A scrub fire in Pukehina that saw firefighters battling flames of up to 4 metres has left more than two hectares charred.

Firefighters from Pukehina, Maketu and Te Puke spent three hours fighting the blaze on Pukehina Parade from 3pm on Monday.

Firefighters spent three hours battling the blaze in Pukehina. Photo: File.

Pukehina Fire Brigade chief fire officer Errol Watts says someone was attempting to burn some rubbish when the fire got out of hand.

'The fire spread to scrub and was close to a block of houses at the back of the property where the fire was.

'The fire didn't damage any of the houses, but there were plenty of home owners standing there with hoses ready to put the fire out if it did get close to their property.”

At one point the flames reached more than 4 metres high, says Errol, as firefighters wore breathing apparatuses due to dense smoke.

'It ended up being about two hectares in the end, so it was quite a big fire.

'It was very difficult to get at as it was on like conservation land and trying to get hoses through the scrub was pretty difficult.”

It took firefighters about three and half hours to put the fire out, by the time they dampened down hot spots and made sure it was completely out.

'There was no one injured but there were a few dirty and tired firemen. People need to be aware that fires can get out of control in winter.

'We were just lucky that for a change the wind wasn't blowing because if it had been it would have been very difficult to control and put out.”

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