A Fiery Start to Summer

Fire!

Summer officially started in Waipu on the 1st December, but it will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. I had been working on the front paddock clearing away branches that had overgrown our electric fence system causing a drop in the effective power being carried and also because of any annoying click on our phone line that picked up the fence shorting out. As I was finishing this job, I noticed a large amount of smoke appearing from further down the highway and at first I thought it might be dust from a large cattle truck maneuvering up the unsealed road that runs off the highway or perhaps a neighbour had started burning some foliage that had accumulated in the paddock. (we are expecting a district wide ban on open fires this month as it has been quite dry)

More water arrives

To my horror I heard a loud bang and then the smoke changed colour to a dark grey. I started back to the tractor and suddenly a fire engine came racing along the main road, so I knew it was bigger than I thought. No video camera handy, but I hopped in the car and drove down the highway. As I came around the bend about a 1km away I could see a house burning fiercely and two appliances in attendance. There was a group of people including children outside the gates and I could see that they were distraught at what was happening while a number of volunteer firemen were running hoses from two fire engines.

Fire taking hold

By this stage the flames were very fierce and had broken through the roof and a couple of loud bangs were followed by more flames. The two appliances ran out of water very quickly and it was obvious that the house was going to burn to the ground if more water didn't arrive. Then I heard more sirens as other district engines arrived along with a milk tanker filled with water and the fireman started to gain control of the fire.

Once we had ascertained that all the family had managed to get out, I began to think how quickly a fire disaster can happen and it was a reminder that although we love living in the rural countryside, it comes with a warning that without sufficient water close by it doesn't take long for a house to be reduced to rubble, especially if it is a timber house (as this one was)

Fast moving traffic

One of the really appalling sights, was the speed of the traffic on the highway, especially as the smoke at one stage was very thick and covered the road completely, making visibility almost nil. Cars and trucks continued to drive past at 100kms per hour, until a very angry Fire Chief posted a fireman and some accident cones further down the road. Even when a fire engine came racing towards the fire, with sirens and horn blasting, some cars refused to pull over quickly and it was lucky they didn't get sideswiped as the engines overtook them. Pathetic behaviour!


This certainly was a wake up call and I am determined to keep our own dam from ever being completely dry. Fortunately we are close to the Ahuroa river, but it would be time consuming to run hoses to the river and back up to our home if required.

SLOW DOWN!!

#UPDATE. The parents who own a local restaurant
were at work and the young family members were being cared for by an Au Pair and were apparently having breakfast and it must have been a very frightening episode. Thank goodness everyone got out safely. The fire apparently started in a 4 year old fridge and fortunately  the house was insured. It was not a nice start to Summer!

Command Centre

Fire Brigade arrives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Help arrives