Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Firefighters have made significant progress in suppressing the Walter Peak fire, with approximately 80 per cent of the fire perimeter now contained and the fire edge behind the homestead fully controlled.
District Commander Blair Kiely says favourable weather conditions have enabled crews to concentrate on extinguishing remaining hotspots and strengthening containment lines around the fire edge.
With good progress being made, Fire and Emergency plans to scale back operations on the fireground by the end of the day. Ongoing monitoring in the days ahead will provide confidence that the fire remains contained, and any flare-ups can be quickly addressed.
Seventeen firefighters and ten support personnel are working across the McKinlay’s Catchment, supported by two helicopters. One helicopter is being used to transport crews and equipment, while a second remains available for targeted water drops in areas that cannot be safely accessed by firefighters on the ground.
While no homes, buildings or livestock have been lost, the fire has affected areas of tussock, scrub and tree cover, and it is expected that local biodiversity has been affected. Fire and Emergency recognises the significance of these environmental values and will continue working with the Department of Conservation, local iwi and landowners as assessments of the affected area are carried out.
Blair Kiely says that today’s progress reflects the dedication and collaboration of firefighters, helicopter crews, incident management personnel, landowners, Department of Conservation staff, iwi representatives, and partner agencies who have worked together in challenging conditions since Tuesday. “We are also very appreciative of the community’s support for the firefighting efforts in such a highly visible location.”
Fire and Emergency investigators will undertake a formal investigation to determine the cause of the fire, in line with standard procedures.