Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
A period of light rain and reduced wind speeds at Waiouru have reduced the extent of the active fire at Waiouru, providing an opportunity for ground and aerial firefighting activities in separate parts of the fireground this afternoon.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) are working together to bring the fire under control.
Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Nigel Dravitzki says that the fire size is currently 3,800 hectares and may take several days to fully contain and extinguish, because of the vegetation and the forecast windy and dry conditions.
Five ground crews have been working to secure the western flank of the fire and are making good headway with hoses and hand tools. NZDF firefighters and crews from local volunteer fire brigades are working together in the ground operations.
This afternoon seven helicopters have resumed the air attack and are currently working to contain the fire’s spread on the eastern perimeter.
Fire and Emergency has established an Incident Management Team including NZDF personnel and is bringing additional resources to support the operation.
Fire and Emergency’s National Coordination Centre has also been activated to support the fire as well as other large-scale fires across New Zealand.