Fire and Emergency New Zealand say “favourable conditions” including light rain have helped efforts as they tackle a massive blaze in Tongariro National Park which has burned through more than 2500ha.
The large fire on the Central Plateau broke out on Saturday, triggering evacuations of trampers and residents, including Whakapapa Village.
As of Sunday night, the fire was estimated to have burnt about 2500 hectares and was 20% contained, FENZ said.
Fire and Emergency District Commander Nigel Dravitzki said the fire size was likely to have increased a little, with a more detailed reconnaissance to be carried out when the weather improves.
All aircraft were grounded this morning because of misty conditions, but firefighters will be on the ground this morning and air operations will resume once the mist clears.
There were 15 helicopters and five planes on standby.
Speaking to Breakfast, Fire and Emergency New Zealand district commander Glen Varcoe said “favourable conditions” overnight including some light rain and moisture in the air had helped the battle on the ground.
“So the quick assessment that we’ve done on the ground and through the air shows the fire front is less active than yesterday, which will enable our crews, both ground and air crews, to actually get some more traction on that of reducing the fire front,” he said.
He said conditions faced initially were “extremely challenging”.
“So we’ve got the terrain, the dryness, and just the fuel loading. So that just meant, with a little bit of wind it was really hard to keep on top of it. I guess because we’re so isolated here, getting resources here has also caused a little bit of issue and getting air assets into the air, so that time just delays and lets the fire grow exponentially.
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka were also at the scene, and praised efforts from all emergency crews, including those from the Department of Conservation.
Mitchell said he was “really pleased” to see FENZ make quick decisions to get air assets up, saying the response had been “outstanding”.
“And the skill of those pilots, I want to acknowledge them and the outstanding work that they’ve done, it has meant that they’ve really been able to contain and not let that southern and northern flank move too far.
“But I don’t want to understate just how difficult that job is up there for them, just the sheer scale of that fire,” he added.
Potaka said it was “quite confronting to see what’s happened” on such a significant piece of conservation land.
“Going up in the helicopter, seeing it from the sky, seeing the scale of the impact and the potential biodiversity impacts on this place of consequence and absolute beauty is very confronting.”
“The DOC team have been working in scaffolding and supporting the emergency response with NEMA and FENZ and also engaging with and working with iwi, who have been absolutely exemplary as they are throughout the country in these types of events, standing up, supporting some of the mission around manaakitanga, looking after people, looking after some of the firefighters and others who are here.
“And of course, the very many tourists that have been down here over the last couple of days,” he said.
Shortly before 9.30pm on Sunday, Assistant Commander Craig Gold said the evacuation of the Whakapapa Village was complete with police checking properties to ensure that everyone had left.
Gold has reiterated the advice to people living in the vicinity of the fire ground, that they stay alert to the fire, with information updated regularly by media and on Fire and Emergency’s Manawatu Whanganui Facebook page.
“The Manawatu-Whanganui Emergency Management Group is providing support for people in the community who are affected by the fire. Call 06 3528750 to reach their Horizons Welfare Line for advice and support.”
‘Huge scale’ – Ruapehu District Mayor
Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton told Breakfast the fire was an “emergency situation” and urged tourists to stay away from the park. (Source: Breakfast)
Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton told Breakfast his biggest concern was the sheer scale of the blaze.
“Well, it’s this huge scale. I was able to go up in the fixed wing aircraft with the mayor of Taupō John Funnell and we’re able to see above all the activity it was just huge.
“It was just a big ring of fire consuming, and as the hours went on it just got worse. [When] it started off, we thought 100 hectares was huge, but now we’re talking thousands of hectares, and that’s just alarm bells for us in terms of the damage and reconstruction, the destruction that’s caused the development of conservation land.”
He said there was no fire ban in place when the fire started, and it wasn’t exactly clear how it began.
“It was near the highway, so we can only speculate that there was some activity that went on down that road on State Highway 47, but it’s under investigation, the police are on hand, of course, just to try and help fire crews there just to see what actually did happen.”
He urged people to stay away from the park and reschedule their tourism plans.
“It’s business as usual for most parts of the Ruapehu course but in the northern part of the Mountain District Park Waimarino it’s a no-go zone, of course, for any hiking or cycling or any activity along that road.
“But we’re just trying to get people to understand that this is an emergency situation until we get clarity as to when the fire is completely out.”
Road closures continue
New Zealand Transport Agency said SH47 remained closed between the intersections of SH4 and SH4 this morning due to the large scrub fire in Tongariro National Park.
SH48 was also closed.
“Continue to avoid the area and detour via SH1 Desert Rd or use an alternate route,” it said online.
