Marlborough fire finally controlled

Press, 10 March 1988, Page 2

Marlborough fire finally controlled

RODGER KINGSBURY

The fire which destroyed about 300 hectares of the Mahakipawa Hill Scenic Reserve during the last two days was finally brought under control about noon yesterday after two helicopters emptied the last of an almost endless chain of monsoon buckets above Queen Charlotte Drive.

The fire, which started in the Havelock rubbish dump early on Tuesday morning, was diverted from the Moenui settlement on the other side of Queen Charlotte Drive Tuesday night. Major outbreaks occurred again yesterday morning to the south-east of the settlement of 46 houses. The Conservation Department’s Sounds dis-

trict conservator, Mr Kerry Johnson, said the fire was the worst at the reserve for at | least 40 yearsJ Fires have been contained in the reserve in the past. } “This is just so tragic,” he said. Mr | Johnson said that no matter what management | practices were followed at , rubbish dumps there was always the potential for fire. ; “If management is the best in the world the situation is just the same. Every dump in the country is like this,” he said.

The deputy rural fire officer for the Marlborough North Rural Fire District, Mr Mike Rogers, said the firefighting work was “marvellous.” The numerous organisations involved had given 100 per cent

co-operation. Mr Rogers said the availability of Queen Charlotte Drive for vehicles and communication on a broad front had made the work easier. There had not been the same need for reliance on radio communication.

About ;25 hectares of scrub was destroyed by a fire which swept through an area of Hira Forest, in the Collins Valley, near Whangamoa, Nelson; yesterday.

Timberlands Nelson staff believe sparks from powerlines arcing in the high winds were responsible for the blaze.

The fire was reported by a farmer at 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Timberlands fire-fighters had it under control by daybreak before it could spread to adjacent pine plantations.