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 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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