Three rural fires, including one covering 150 hectares of farmland, have kept Manawatū firefighters busy.
At 6am today, crews were called to a fire in a "well-alight" hay barn in Tangimoana in Manawatū. It was extinguished by 8am.
It followed a 1ha scrub fire in Pineland Drive at Turitea, south of Palmerston North, at 8pm yesterday.
Palmerston North senior station officer Ian King said that fire started in a pile of logs and off-cuts from a forestry operation.
The fire was visible from the city, including the fire station, and was "quite spectacular", he said.
Rural firefighters were still at the scene at 6am today watching for hot spots, a Fire Service spokesman said.
The most dramatic blaze last night covered 150ha of farmland near the settlement of Bainesse, about 20 kilometres east of Palmerston North.
Homes were under threat and residents were told to leave as more than 30 fire engines and two helicopters with monsoon buckets fought the fire yesterday afternoon.
The fire started on farmland between Kellow and Bainesse roads about 1.15pm and was still spreading at 3pm.
Police closed both roads for the afternoon as crews fought the blaze.
King said the spate of fires in the past 24 hours had meant extra staff were called in to help.
"There have been people here working long shifts, and a lot of the volunteers out there have been working long spells as well."
He said the cause of the three fires would be investigated in the coming days.
Manawatū fire area commander Mitchell Brown said the Bainesse fire was a major incident and had burnt paddocks and hay bales.
He said the helicopters were important to stop the fire spreading to a pine plantation.
"Having helicopters operating is expensive but really important to stop the fire spreading to the pine plantation... because that will change all of our tactics if we have a pine plantation fire."
Brown said there had been reports of fire encroaching on homes.
Police put a cordon around the area and advised homeowners to leave.
"At this stage, specific homes on the fire front have been advised to keep clear of the area," he said yesterday.
"We've made the precaution for safety of the community during this incident."
Brown said at least 32 fire engines had attended from Palmerston North, Bulls, Marton and Levin, as well as all rural fire resources.
"This is a serious incident; that's why we've got some serious firepower," he said.
Deputy area commander Rodger Calder said the fire crews contained the blaze last night.
"The fire has been surrounded, it's under control... but there are an awful lot of hot spots out there," he said.
Rural fire crews, one urban fire crew and a command unit remained at the scene overnight.
The owner of one affected property, John McTavish, said he had lost all of his winter feed and a shed, believed to have had a vehicle inside.
Graeme Burling, who lives on a Downs Rd property opposite the fire, said there had been at least two fires in the area in the past few weeks because it was so dry.
"We've never had it this bad before, put it that way," he said.
"It's just because we haven't had the rain right from the winter, really."
Burling's wife, Linda, said they had never seen a fire of that size in the area before.
"It's a lot. This is a bad fire," she said.
"It's a very big fire. It's going to be very devastating for these farmers."
The Manawatū District has fire restrictions in place after several weeks of dry weather.
From midnight tonight, all open fires in the Manawatū, Rangitīkei, Horowhenua and Palmerston North City districts will require a permit.
Fires in areas bordering Department of Conservation land, will also require a permit.
Principal rural fire officer Stewart Davies said the risk of fire was growing as dry weather continued.
The restriction means permits will be needed for all open-air fires, except for contained gas or liquid-fuelled barbecues and cooking fires lit within approved concrete or stone surrounds at least 3 metres from any combustible material.
No fires should be lit in high or gusty winds, if the smoke is going to be a nuisance or if the person lighting the fire cannot stay to make sure the fire is extinguished.
Permits are also required for the use of braziers and chimineas.
Permits would be issued only during normal office hours after allowing sufficient time for any investigations and inspections to be made by a rural fire officer.
The Wellington Rural Fire Authority increased the fire-danger level throughout the region to high yesterday.
Source: Manawatū Standard
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