Fire burnt 2.5ha in minutes; ban likely

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is warning of a major fire risk in coming days, after Cromwell residents grabbed hoses and buckets to tackle a major blaze which started in tinder dry conditions.

Fenz Assistant Area Commander Mark Mawhinney said it was extremely fortunate the fire yesterday — which burnt 2.5ha in the space of a few minutes — had not been fanned by stronger winds.

The fire near the intersection of Kawarau Gorge Rd (State Highway 6) and State Highway 8B was reported about 2.05pm.

The public needed to be aware of how dry Central Otago was and how quickly a fire could get out of control, AAC Mawhinney said.

This summer, firefighters had been extinguishing fires early and so far conditions had been in the favourable — but sooner or later luck would run out and a major fire could burn thousands of hectares.

Large areas of the South Island would be at especially high risk this weekend.

A prohibited activities notice would likely be issued until Tuesday, banning activities such as grinding and mowing.

Conditions were the driest they had been since the summer of 2017-18 and many firefighting resources had been deployed to help with the response to Cyclone Gabrielle in the North Island.

"We can’t afford to have a major event down here and that’s easily what this could have been," AAC Mawhinney said.

Central Otago group manager Bobby Lamont said Sunday to Tuesday were likely to be spike days, when conditions meant there was an elevated fire risk.

Activities which could cause a spark should be performed at the start of the day and people should call 111 at the first sign of smoke, Mr Lamont said.

Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Neil Gillespie said the call pretty much went straight to a third alarm once approaching appliances from the station saw the size of the fire amidst the tinder dry conditions.

At least seven appliances were dispatched before the fire was brought under control by 2.50pm, including a command unit from Dunedin.

Three helicopters were placed on standby and police diverted traffic around the fire, which was burning on both sides of the highway, a Fenz spokesman said.

A Waenga Dr resident said the fire started in a privately owned bit of land between the street and Kawarau Gorge Rd (SH6).

The land was used by the public and had been overgrown for about 20 years.

"It was only a matter of time," he said.

Another witness said about 50 residents grabbed hoses and buckets to attempt to fight the blaze.

It was surprising how quickly the fire grew, another resident said.

Fire investigators will attend to determine the cause of the fire.