Angry Queenstown residents say Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) need a "right royal bollocking" after agreeing to a billionaire’s safety plan for a New Year’s Eve fireworks display, which is being investigated as the possible cause of a 0.5ha rural fire near Dalefield.
It is understood the property at the centre of the Dalefield furore is an exclusive lodge in Littles Rd, owned by a company associated with Empire State Realty Trust chairman, president and chief executive Tony Malkin, of New York.
Fenz national manager of readiness and recovery Steve Turek said certification for pyrotechnic displays on private land was issued by an independent compliance certifier under the WorkSafe regime. Fenz provided advice on the safety plan.
"In this case, our staff reviewed the safety plan for the event and agreed to it.
"The Dalefield area was not in a restricted fire season on New Year’s Eve as the fire indices did not meet the threshold for imposing restrictions.
"A specialist fire investigator has conducted a scene investigation today and his report will be prepared and reviewed in the normal way before being released."
Another property owner, who requested they not be named, thanked the 16 firefighters who extinguished the blaze.
"It was very reassuring to see [firefighters] arrive and calmly take charge and get the fire under control.
"We were not anxious but we were very watchful ... If it had been windy or had reached the trees the outcome today would have been very different."
Although the fire was out yesterday, tempers were still flaring among residents who last week started a more than 300-signature petition against the private display, amidst concerns the noisy display would frighten their horses and other livestock.
Liz Park leases a block of land at Dalefield for her daughter’s retired 18-year-old eventing horse, Louie.
"I wish I could have a photo for you of the horse’s eyes. They were bulging out of his head."
She was lucky she had a massive paddock so Louie did not bolt the fences.
However, his reaction was still "bloody horrific" and Fenz needed a "right royal bollocking".
John Quinn said he spent all New Year’s Eve loading his horses into two trucks and driving them to Southland.
"The cost to the community alone in moving the stock would be unbelievable."
He found it incredible that one person could have that much impact on so many people.
"There was a lot of panic and fear last night."
Central Otago group manager Bobby Lamont said two Queenstown fire appliances, a tanker and a rural appliance from Arrowtown, as well as 16 crew, went to the fire.
It took three hours to extinguish it and one crew stayed until daybreak to ensure there were no flare ups.
Two other Otago vegetation fires were also put out yesterday.
A small fire at an old school site in a Department of Conservation reserve in Skippers Canyon, near Queenstown, was extinguished by campers, earning praise for their actions to prevent it spreading.
Mr Lamont said heavy fire trucks could not get access but Fenz staff drove in early yesterday morning to confirm it was out.
Fireworks are believed to be the cause of a cliff-face fire at Aramoana, near Dunedin, which began shortly after midnight and blazed all night.
Five crew, with help from a helicopter, extinguished the inaccessible fire yesterday morning.
Meanwhile, a spark from a lawnmower blade hitting a stone seems to have been the cause of a fire in Southland yesterday afternoon, a Fenz spokesman said.
Six crews extinguished the Wendon blaze at 3.30pm.
