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Classic Cars Among Damage in Large Rotorua Blaze

5/2/2021

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A large fire has destroyed the contents of a Paradise Valley property including at least three classic cars and a large truck. The blaze broke out at a property on Paradise Valley Rd about 11pm, spreading through the building and then into neighbouring shrub.

A Rotorua Daily Post reporter at the scene said the fire had destroyed a large shed about 40m by 40m and what looked to be at least three classic cars and a large truck could be seen among the rubble. A house on the property hadn't been damaged.
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Damage from a fire at a Paradise Valley property last night. Photo / Kelly Makiha
The man who lives at the property arrived at the house just after 9am. He said he was too devastated to talk as he had lost everything. He said he was now meeting with the fire safety investigator.

A Bay of Plenty Regional Council worker arrived at the property just before 9am and said they had been called to check if contaminants had leaked into the nearby steam.

A neighbouring couple, who didn't want to be named, said they were asleep with their ranch slider door open about 11pm when they heard a massive bang that woke them up. "I thought someone had slammed the door," the woman said. They then looked outside and saw the fire. 
"It just went boom. Then there were five to six big booms."
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Classic cars are among the damage in a Paradise Valley fire. Photo / Andrew Warner
Alec Martin, an emergency response team member who lives in the area, said he and his children headed to the scene after hearing "a real loud explosion" last night.

Eight fire appliances and four tankers were sent to the scene.
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A large house fire broke out on Paradise Valley Road, in Rotorua, about 11pm. Photo / Supplied
"We shot down and found the house was full on ablaze," he said. "We parked up in the driveway and I tried to get the lady out of the neighbouring house but she was too scared to leave. My daughter called the fire brigade. "That house was a couple of hundred metres from the fire but I was worried about it spreading. She ended up coming out in the end but the fire crews stopped it spreading that far."
Martin said the building on fire was a "workman's shed". "It was huge and crazy hot. The shed had gas canisters and chemicals so there were quite a few explosions, it was pretty freaky. "It was away from the house but it burnt out all the neighbouring trees and stuff. There is a guy who stays in the shed so we were a bit worried someone was in there but thankfully not." There were initial reports of people inside the home, but it was later established that the residents were not at home when the fire broke out.
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A fire truck and tanker stayed at the scene through the night to monitor for hotspots.

Local resident Alley James said he and his neighbours were walking around their properties about 11pm because they could smell the smoke and he and his mother-in-law up the hill and another neighbour down the road were walking around their properties checking to see if the smoke smell was coming from near them. "Twenty minutes later a loud bang was heard. Originally, I thought it was just a hunter shooting a high powered rifle. All of a sudden a massive explosion was not only heard but felt as well. "Flames licked the night sky as the surrounding trees and foliage were set ablaze." He described the smell as being like plastic burning. He said neighbours all rushed to call emergency services. James, who had lived in the area for 16 years, said he didn't know the people who lived at the house and understood they hadn't been there long.
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Another neighbour, who didn't want to be named, said a woman lived in the house (on the property) and a man lived in a nearby house bus. She was one of several neighbours who heard the explosion and also called emergency services. She said she and her family came down to look but left the area to let the large contingent of firefighters do their job to contain the fire as there were fears of it spreading to surrounding bush and trees.
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Matakana Island Fire: Five Helicopters and Five Crews Fight Fire For 8th Day

21/12/2020

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Five helicopters and five rural firefighter crews are still fighting the fire on Matakana Island today, eight days after it started. Those fighting the fire are being praised by a former resident of the island who said the blaze had been "devastating" to watch.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said the extent of the damage, and how long they would need to stay on the island, was unknown. Homes were not currently at risk and the fire had been all forestry.

Today rural firefighters from Te Puke, Lake Okareka, Lake Tarawera and Okere Falls were on the island which was "still on fire". MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said it would be more humid with a few showers tomorrow but there would also be moderate winds in the morning. The winds will pick up again on Wednesday and Christmas Eve will be a wet day which might offer some relief with an estimated 20mm to 30mm of rain.

On Saturday, smoke was seen billowing after the fire jumped a fire break causing it to resurge. The fire initially started on December 13. Smoke was seen from around the city, with an Otumoetai resident reporting fine ash falling on his Grange Rd property.

On Sunday, two helicopters, three ground crews and two bulldozers were involved in the efforts.
Tauranga resident Rachael Garrett grew up on the island and said watching it burn was "devastating" and a "shock". Garrett was on the island the day before the initial blaze with her in-laws who she had taken for a drive down the beach and she had mentioned that in all her years there had never been a fire. "The very next day we had a fire, and that was devastating. I couldn't believe it."

On the Saturday the blaze reignited, and she headed out on the water and looked at where the fire had been the week prior and said there was no smoke. "From the time it took for me to get from that side of the island, back up Hunter's Creek, all of a sudden there was a whole lot of smoke." Within 40 minutes, the helicopters had arrived. "I just found them absolutely amazing, they were constantly going."
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Matakana Island is also the home of the Department of Conservation's dotterel breeding programme. The dotterel is an endangered small shorebird found only in New Zealand, with only 2500 birds left. The programme was initially set up in 1992, and has led to more than 300 successfully fledged chicks over that time. The relative isolation of the island's beaches is a key element in the successful breeding, making it one the country's top breeding sites.
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Matakana Island Fire: Crews Battling Blaze One Week On

20/12/2020

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A fire on Bay of Plenty's Matakana Island is still burning a week after it started.

Last Sunday, a large fire burned for more than 24 hours on the island and crews remained on scene all week but it flared up again on Saturday. Matakana Island sits 2km off the coast of Tauranga and is home to nearly 200 people.

This morning, more than 80 firefighters were battling the blaze with three fresh crews from as far away as Ngāruawāhia brought over by ferry, as well as five helicopters.

Principal rural fire officer Steve Webb said the fire, which was burning through a forestry block, increased from 19 hectares to about 40ha after it flared up. Webb said the fuel source was making it difficult to get it under control. "What we have is a problem where lots of fuel that hasn't burnt through and burnt properly, and it hasn't been consumed properly," he said. "So it is still smoldering and smoking so it gets worse in the heat of the day."

The fire was contained but that could change quickly, Webb said. "If we get any hot, dry, windy weather there is a possibility it could go across the containment lines. "So that is what we are working hard on over the next 48 hours to make sure we eliminate the fire doing that and that is where all the hard dirty slog comes in."

Volunteers from the mainland have been rallying around the firefighters. Shaan Kingi from Katikati Māori Wardens said when the blaze broke out, they offered their support to whānau on the island. "We got teams together to get bottles of water, chocolates and Up&Gos to make sure the crews had some to snack on," Kingi said.

Matakana Island resident Marlene Samuels said it had been a long week, but fire crews had been working incredibly hard. "That does concern us, these are our family, sons, uncles," Samuels said. "We are concerned for their health and safety but they are doing a good job." She said although the fire was burning near their community, the smoke was not having much of an impact. "We're not that much affected on our side but I understand residents in Otūmoetai are getting more of the smoke than what we are." She said they were grateful for the support that had been offered to the tight-knit community. "We are all family, we are all connected to each other and we care about what happens. "We are just keeping an eye on each other and making sure we are looking after each other."
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Fire and Emergency said they were aware of the smoke drifting towards Tauranga City and told residents if they were affected to stay indoors and close windows. Those who needed medical advice were told to contact healthline. Fire crews were expected to be on the island for several more days yet.
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Two Helicopters and Three Rural Fire Crews Battle Matakana Island Blaze

19/12/2020

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Two helicopters, three Fire and Emergency New Zealand ground crew and a couple of bulldozers are involved in the huge efforts to extinguish a large blaze on Matakana Island. A helicopter flew to Matakana Island yesterday to help ground crews on Matakana Island after a fire had jumped a fire break causing a resurgence, six days after the initial blaze. Last Sunday, a large fire on Matakana Island off Tauranga burned for more than 24 hours before it was brought under control.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager said two helicopters and three ground crew of rural firefighters were still on the island trying to put out the blaze. Fire fighting resources also included a couple of bulldozers and the ground crews were working on a rational basis because of the conditions they were working in, he said.
A command centre spokesman said they could be on the island for several more days. A number of Bay of Plenty Times reporters earlier said they could see and smell smoke from Welcome Bay and driving over the Tauranga Harbour Bridge.
​An Otumoetai resident who lives on Grange Rd said spots of fine ash could be seen swirling from his property. "Like a light snow." He said he first noticed the smell just before 3pm and it was getting "stronger and stronger".
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Firefighters Spend More Than Five Hours Battling Blazes Near Paengaroa Rotorua

10/10/2020

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Firefighters spent more than five hours battling fires around the wider Bay of Plenty yesterday.

Police and emergency services staff responded to both a large bush fire on a farm property near Rotorua and a large shelter belt blaze near the Te Puke highway around 2pm and 3pm yesterday. A police spokeswoman said police were alerted at 3.02pm to the fire on State Highway 30 between Bryce and Apirana Rds.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel were on the scene, and due to it being quite windy in the area, the road was being reduced down to one lane, she said. ​Downers were assisting with traffic management and motorists should expect delays.

Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager Kaisey Cook said there were three fire appliances and two water tankers on the scene of the 30m by 50m blaze. Firefighters from Rotorua and Lake Okareka stations were working to put out the fire which was on a farm near Bryce Rd, she said. Cook said the cause of the fire was unknown and there had been no reports of any risk to any nearby structures.

Meanwhile, firefighters from Maketū and Te Puke stations are working to put out a shelterbelt fire on a farm in Gulliver Rd, Paengaroa near Te Puke Highway, she said. Cook said the fire service was called at 2.20pm and three fire appliances and two tankers from Maketū and Te Puke were on the scene of the 300m by 30m blaze.

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Garage Fire "Well Involved" in Rotorua

25/5/2020

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A garage fire was "well-involved" at Tikitere, off Te Ngae Rd near Rotorua Airport this morning.
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Two crews from Rotorua Fire Station and a water tanker from Lake Okareka are currently at the property on Hawthornden Drive.

A Rotorua Daily Post photographer at the scene said an external garage had caught fire and there was a boat inside it. Fire crews were dampening down the shed.

A Fire and Emergency spokesman said the garage was five by nine metres wide and there was no danger to the house or any other properties. He said there were no injuries. A fire investigator has been called to determine the cause.
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Bay of Plenty Fire Restrictions to Lift

5/5/2020

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Fire restrictions are about to be lifted but authorities remind people to take care.
Fire restrictions affecting the Bay of Plenty area will be lifted from tomorrow.

Pumicelands, Central Lakes and Bay of Plenty Coast will move to an Open Fire Season, effective from 8am. However, all Department of Conservation land will remain in a year-long Restricted Fire Season.

Principal rural fire officer Steve Webb said despite the lifting, while the region was under a Covid-19 alert level 3, people were asked to continue to hold off lighting any non-essential fires until it was safe to do so. "Even though we are now in an open season, we ask people to seriously consider whether the fire is absolutely necessary and think about alternatives to burning. "Lighting fires is likely to generate a 111 call from the public whether they are out of control or not. This means our firefighters then need to leave their bubbles to deal with a preventable call."

Webb said everyone has been asked be more vigilant than ever to prevent the spread of the virus. "Help us keep you and our firefighters safe during this time and don't light outdoor fires if you don't need to." Webb said people still needed to ensure they complied with local bylaws and rules regarding smoke and air pollution, regardless of what fire season it was.

For more information on how to reduce the risk of fire visit www.checkitsalright.nz.
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Fire Crews at Scene of Scrub Fire near Mourea

13/3/2020

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​Fire crews work to put out the scrub fire.
Fire crews are at the scene of a scrub fire near Mourea. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said five crews were battling the fire which was 150m by 100m. The crews from Rotorua, Ngongotahā, Okere Falls, and Lake Ōkareka and were called to the scene about 1.40pm.

A worker at Whangamarino School in Mourea said she went to get her lunch and saw what looked like someone burning rubbish on a rural property. ​She said there was not much smoke at that stage, but one of their bus drivers had just come in saying there was a decent amount coming from the property. "It must have gotten bigger."

An Okere Falls store worker said they could not see any smoke from their store, but had heard a call-out between their store and Mourea.
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​Fire crews have been at the scene since 1.40pm.
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Helicopters, Trucks and Tankers Battle Scrub Fire in Atiamuri

5/2/2020

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A "tricky" scrub fire in Atiamuri took firefighters over five hours to fully extinguish. The one-acre fire on Nicholson Rd, Atiamuri was reported at 2.30pm yesterday. One helicopter, four fire trucks from Rotorua and two tankers from Ngongotahā and Lake Ōkareka, battled the blaze. A Fire and Emergency media spokesman said the location was "tricky" and crews were on site until 8pm. No one was injured.
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Huge Fire Risk Prompts Closure of Tarawera Forest

4/2/2020

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​The high risk of fire has prompted the closure of the Tarawera Forest to the public until further notice just days before the area's biggest running event. The closure included Mt Putauaki, Tarawera Outlet and the popular Tarawera Falls. The Tarawera Ultra Marathon will still go ahead, however, no permits for personal vehicle access in the forest will be issued. Yesterday a prohibited fire season was declared for Central Lakes, Bay Of Plenty Coast and Pumicelands.

​All fire permits have been suspended in the area as the fire was is too high, principal rural fire officer Steve Webb said. During a prohibited fire season only gas and charcoal barbecue's can be used. Hangi was still allowed, but people must contact Fire and Emergency NZ when planning one so additional protection can be put in place. Webb said it was vitally important that people understand the risks. In extreme conditions, it only takes a spark to start a devastating wildfire. That spark can come from a piece of equipment such as a lawnmower, or a grinder, welding or a plough, he said. "To protect your home, keep roofs and gutters clear of dead leaves, debris and pine needles. Move anything that could burn away from exterior walls, decks or porches."

​If the current conditions persist there may be a requirement to prohibit any activities that may cause fires to start. Yesterday, Fire and Emergency NZ advised that the fire danger level had been raised to "Very High" in Kawerau.

The Tarawera Ultra Marathon will be held on Saturday, and shuttles will be used to transport participants through the forest.

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Large Vegetation Fire in Bay of Plenty Threatens Forests

29/1/2020

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Three appliances and three helicopters are at the fire, with two more appliances en route. Photo / File
​Three helicopters are helping firefighters battle a large vegetation fire in Broadlands, Bay of Plenty. The blaze measures 3.5ha Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) shift manager Carren Larking said.

Three appliances are at the fire, which is creeping towards a forestry plantation, with two further appliances en route. The fire is not yet under control, with strong southeast winds making the blaze difficult to contain, she said.
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Three 'Suspicious' Building Fires Near Taupō

13/1/2020

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Three overnight fires at buildings near Lake Taupō are being treated as suspicious, Fire and Emergency says. Crews were called to two house fires - on Areta Lane in Hatepe, and Waitetoko Road in Tauranga Taupō - between 3am and 4am overnight. They were also called to a burning shed on Heuheu Parade in Tauranga Taupō.

​All the buildings were extensively damaged but police said nobody was inside the buildings.
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Fire Fighters still at Taupō Landfill after 36 hours

12/1/2020

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Fire at Taupō's Broadlands Rd landfill, January 11 2020. Photo / TDC
​Firefighters were still at Taupō district's main landfill on Sunday, more than 36 hours after a fire broke out.

The fire was first spotted overnight on Friday. A rescue helicopter flying overhead raised the alarm. A Fire and Emergency media spokeswoman said about midday on Sunday four trucks were still on site managing hotspots. She said a helicopter was used on Saturday but reported it was no longer needed for aerial drops as of 7pm that night. At 1am on Sunday, firefighters at the scene reported they were dousing hotspots.

At the height of the fire, there were two fire trucks, one tanker and one four-wheel drive. On Saturday, the Taupō District Council confirmed helicopters with monsoon buckets and the Taupō Fire Brigade were on site at the fire at the Broadlands Rd landfill on the eastern outskirts of Taupō. The fire was under control but helicopters are still ferrying water to the landfill.

Council communications manager Lisa Nairne had said the fire could take some time to fully put out. "Rubbish fires are really deep-seated so it could take a while to extinguish completely." She said the alarm was raised just after midnight on Friday when the fire was spotted by the crew of Taupō's Greenlea rescue helicopter.

The fire is in one of the landfill's general waste areas and at its peak, covered an area of about 200m by 80m. Nairne said the cause was not yet known but there would be an investigation. The landfill was closed to the public yesterday and today.
According to the NIWA fire weather index, the fire risk in Taupō this week was generally rated as high, but extremely high in scrub areas, high in forests and moderate in grass areas.
- Additional reporting Cira Olivier
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Rotorua Crews Called To House Fire In Waiotapu

24/12/2019

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Fire Emergency NZ was called out to house fire in Waiotapu just after 4pm today.
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A spokesperson said there were two crews and two tankers called out to the fire from Rotorua.
The fire was still not under control, he said.

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Whakarewarewa Forest Trail Shut after Sudden Death

1/12/2019

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A section of trail in Whakarewarewa Forest was temporarily closed yesterday after a sudden death in the forest. In a post on Facebook yesterday Rotorua Trails Trust said part of the new up trail had been closed temporarily. "Please respect the closure and stay off this section of trail until we let you know it has been reopened," it said.

A police spokeswoman today confirmed police had been "notified of a sudden death in the forest at Lake Okareka about 2pm yesterday". "It does not appear to be suspicious."

A St John spokeswoman confirmed it had sent one ambulance to a mountain bike track at 1.46pm yesterday. A medic from Peak Safety also attended.

Rotorua Lakes Council could not provide any details as the incident was being dealt with by the police.
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