The 91 hectares fire was mainly in young pines and bars.
Photo: Supplied / FENZ
A great cleaning is underway at the Waipoua settlement in Northland when residents return after last week’s fierce forest fire.
IWI leader Snow Tane said about a third of the evacuates returned on Sunday night and on Tuesday about two thirds were back in their homes.
Those who had still returned were concerned about the possibility of another outbreak and particularly the effects of the health of the remaining smoke.
Te roroa Development Group General Manager Snow Tane.
Photo: RNZ/PETER DE GRAF
“There are still some concerns about the potential of the fire again and, in particular, about the inhalation of smoke. This is a very real risk, with some of the whIONAU there having breathing problems.”
Tane, who manages Te Roroa’s development group and owns a home in the agreement, said a great cleaning was underway.
No house was damaged by fire, but the water supply of the settlement was destroyed and the roofs were covered in ashes.
Some houses suffered damage caused by smoke in closed environments because the occupants had no time to close the windows as they fled the flames that advanced rapidly.
An excavator expands the containment line around the Waipoua fire.
Photo: Supplied / FENZ
Instead of using individual rainwater tanks, houses in the settlement were connected to a single water system that provided the entire valley.
“This was right in the middle where the fire tore, so it was destroyed.”
Tane said the water was removed from a freshwater source, filtered and pumped into three retention tanks and then reticuled through the settlement.
“The tanks are still there, but the infrastructure around them is gone and the pump shed that had our filtering system, which is gone. Therefore, there is no drinking water now.”
Meanwhile, until the system could be rebuilt, you were providing residents drinking water.
Tane said the fire -fighting effort was “looking very good” with the numbers of firefighters reduced today, and the only concern was possible strong winds on Wednesday.
Tiring physical work with handle tools and hoses is the only way to put out Waipoua’s fire.
Photo: Supplied / FENZ
Fire and Emergency’s focus continued to decrease the warm points in the 91 -hectares fire ground.
The Phil Larcombe incident controller said 56 firefighters, four ships and two excavators were on the floor on Tuesday.
Contract teams and conservation department will continue to clean the fire for the rest of this week.
“We would like to thank the local community and Roroa for your Manaakitanga while we were here. Thanks also for all the messages of support to our teams, they are very appreciated.”
A total ban on fire was now in force in the west and northern Northland.
Map showing areas in the north and west of Northland, where a total ban on fire will take effect on Saturday.
Photo: Supplied / FENZ
Larcombe said this meant that no outdoor fire was allowed and all existing fire licenses were revoked.
Anyone who wasn’t sure of the rules in their area can go to CheckSSalright.nz to get the latest advice.
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