Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
An assessment of the vegetation fire at Centre Hill in Northern Southland will be made as soon as weather conditions allow.
Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Hamish Angus says that it is currently raining steadily in the area, with very strong winds.
While the rain will help in suppressing any remaining fire in the open country, deep-seated areas of burning in mature beech forest will need to be checked and any pockets of fire dug out and extinguished.
The fire is estimated to have affected an area of 80 hectares, mostly high country grazing and an area of native bush on adjoining public conservation land. There are no reports of livestock having been affected by the fire.
Yesterday’s firefighting efforts were focused on defending the two telecommunications towers from the fire. Hamish Angus says that the helicopter pilots did an excellent job in very challenging conditions.
Crews of firefighters from Southland volunteer brigades and the Department of Conservation are being arranged for tomorrow morning. They are all experienced in arduous conditions.
An investigation into the origin and cause of the fire will be carried out.