The felled-pine fire at Bucklands Crossing in Mountain Rd, near Waikouaiti, began yesterday and had grown to cover 16ha. Fire and Emergency shift manager Mau Barbara said crews monitored the blaze overnight, and were back this morning. The Otago principal rural fire officer was one of about 24 firefighters tackling the blaze yesterday. BUSY WEEK FOR FIREFIGHTERSBetween the larger fires and a handful of Guy Fawkes-related issues, Otago firefighters have had a busy week. Three Waters group manager Tom Dyer said the council was limiting its water intake from the Waikouaiti River to the water treatment plant to ensure the fire ash in the river did not get into the water intake.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 08, 2019 20:39 UTC