The sound of fire sirens is likely to be heard on Mt Iron, Wanaka, later this month as trials are carried out on the best way to warn the public of a fire.
Mt Iron and Little Mt Iron subdivisions are characterised by narrow, steep streets and houses surrounded by thick stands of manuka and kanuka.
A recent meeting between a residents' group, the New Zealand Fire Service, the Department of Conservation and the Queenstown Lakes District Council discussed ways of raising the alarm in the event of a fire.
Fire Service Central and North Otago area manager Keith McIntosh told the Otago Daily Times yesterday sirens ''might be the most practical'' way.
''The chances of people hearing sirens, be they visitors to town, is probably better than paging systems carried by individuals. Sirens sort of make a bit of sense.''
Residents' representative Kris Vollebregt put up the idea of installing sirens on power poles at a cost of about $8500, as the Waitaki District Council had done in a forest at Shag Point.
Queenstown Lakes District Council principal rural fire officer Gordon Bailey did not discount the possibility of using technology other than sirens.
''There are alerts through cellphones and pager systems. The technology is changing quite rapidly.''
The fire service and Doc are preparing a fire response plan for Mt Iron that could be modelled on Doc's ''Red Zone'' plan used for areas around Queenstown.
Last August the ODT reported Doc and the council had introduced a pager-based system for residents in Bob's Cove, Closeburn Station, Wilson Bay and Moke Rd.
The $7000 installation cost was met by rural fire authorities, which will be responsible for maintenance and routine testing. To receive messages, red zone residents needed a $260 pager.
Mr McIntosh said the plan for Mt Iron was to, firstly, have a system to alert people to the danger and, secondly, hit any fire ''as hard and quick as we can''.
Mr Bailey said the group aimed to have things ''pretty well sorted'' by September.
A date for this month's siren trial has not yet been decided.
