Strong winds hinder crews battling multiple fires in South Island
4 Apr, 2021 03:31 AM
3 minutes to read
Emergency services at the scene of the hedge fire in Waimea Valley Rd. Photo / ODT
NZ Herald
Strong winds are preventing helicopters from being deployed to several rural fires in the South Island.
On-call Region 5 Commander Keith McIntosh said resources are stretched in Otago and Southland where a regional co-ordination centre had been activated to monitor the situation.
He said at one stage this afternoon, 37 appliances and tankers were involved across the region.
Fire crews fight three separate fires in Southland
At 2.30pm, crews were fighting two fires within 5km of each other in the Waimea Valley, with another near Dacre.
Sunday, 4 April 2021, 5:08 pm
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews are responding to
several rural blazes in Southland, Otago and South
Canterbury today, with strong winds preventing helicopters
from being deployed in most areas.
On-call Region 5
Commander Keith McIntosh said the regional coordination
centre had been activated to monitor the situation in Otago
and Southland, where he said resources were stretched due to
the large number of call-outs. At one stage this afternoon,
37 appliances and tankers were involved across the
region.
Mr McIntosh urged people to check old fire
sites on their properties to make sure they were fully out,
and not to contemplate lighting new fires. Fire permits have
Ricky Wilson/Stuff
Strong winds are hampering the efforts of firefighters who are at several blazes in the south on Sunday.
Fire crews are responding to several rural blazes in Southland, Otago and South Canterbury on Sunday, with strong winds preventing helicopters from being used in most areas. A Fire and Emergency on-call commander, Keith McIntosh, said resources were stretched due to the large number of callouts. At one stage during the afternoon 37 fire appliances and tankers were involved across the region. Crews were fighting three separate fires in Southland at 2.30pm, two within 5km of each other in the Waimea Valley, and another near Dacre.