Tangoio fire update 3

Fire crews will take a well-earned rest from the Tangoio fire site from about 6pm, with a fresh crew monitoring the situation overnight.

Tomorrow, four helicopters will continue to support the on-ground teams, after four helicopters and the two fixed wing planes were stood down today.

It was expected to take up to a week to fully extinguish the fire, said Fire and Emergency incident controller Trevor Mitchell.

Overnight a drone would be deployed to scan the site for hot spots, using an infrared camera. “That will help us know where to focus our efforts tomorrow.”

Kinder weather conditions have helped fire crews to contain the fire today, with no increase in the 350 hectares already burnt.

There have been 55 Fire and Emergency firefighters on site today, as well as support workers and Pan Pac and Forest Management New Zealand fire staff. Mr Mitchell expects numbers to be about the same tomorrow.

The residents of the one house that was evacuated yesterday have been able to return home and there is no risk to any other properties, he said.

“The teams have worked extremely hard today. As well as fighting the fire, we’ve had contingency fire breaks bulldozed outside of the fire’s perimeter and laid fire retardant.”

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

7 January 2020

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