Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Conditions are misty in the Tongariro National Park this morning, which has helped limit the growth of the fire overnight.
All aircraft are grounded because of the mist, but firefighters will be on the ground this morning and air operations will resume once the mist clears.
Fire and Emergency District Commander Nigel Dravitzki says that the fire size is likely to have increased a little from the estimated 2500 hectares. A more detailed reconnaissance will be carried out when the weather improves.
Eight crews of Fire and Emergency firefighters from Wellington and Hawkes Bay will be boosting the ground attack today, alongside seven crews from the Department of Conservation, and additional volunteer firefighters from the Central Plateau brigades.
“Many of the local volunteer firefighters have come forward to help today, as they did over the weekend. It’s their whenua and they have a stake in protecting it,” Nigel Dravitzki says.
There are 15 helicopters and five fixed wing planes on standby to resume operations when the weather clears.
