Total fire ban in Northland after Far North blaze evacuates 100 homes

Wednesday, 30 December 2020

A total fire ban is now in place for the whole of Northland.

The ban comes the morning after 100 Ahipara homes were evacuated as a large bushfire blazed above the town.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand declared a prohibited fire season in the Far North on Wednesday. The same change was made in Whangārei and Kaipara last week.

“It is very dry up in the Far North, and we want to take every step possible to reduce the risk of potentially dangerous fires, like we are dealing with at Ahipara,” principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor said.

**READ MORE:

* Far North fire: 100 homes evacuated as bush blaze continues near Ahipara

* Northland fire: More homes at Ahipara evacuated, but blaze contained

* Two Northland fires during total fire ban believed to be suspicious

**

On Wednesday morning there were 40 firefighters and six helicopters tackling the blaze at Ahipara.

Residents reported ash “raining from the sky” after a large patch of scrub on a hill went up in flames.

The ban means activities like lighting bonfires and camp fires are now banned across the region.

Taylor said visitors to Northland need to understand the fire dangers.

People who are camping should create an escape plan in case of fire, he said.

“A fire can start quickly and at any time of the day, and an escape plan away from your accommodation can be a lifesaver.”

Taylor also had a simple message for people who use fire as a tool to burn rubbish: “Don’t.”

Last year Fire and Emergency New Zealand went to more than 100 rubbish fires across the Far North, he said.

“Those fires were unnecessary, and we don’t want to see a repeat of those high numbers this summer.”