Controller Geoff Purcell News Today

Fire and Emergency/Supplied Five helicopters, two excavators, three bulldozers and 65 firefighters are battling the blaze near Pipiwai. The fire spread to pine trees near Pipiwai Road, and the road is being closed so the trees can be dropped, he said. The road was closed from about 4km east of the village, extending for about 150m. A fire break was also cut in the forest, but the containment lines were “getting a bit loose”, Booth admitted. Incident Controller Geoff Purcell said Fire and...

The fire at Matawaia has caused the closure of a section of Pipiwai Road. The road is blocked because the fire has compromised a couple of trees hanging over the road and Fire and Emergency needs to make the road safe. The road is closed from around four kilometres east of the village, extending for about 150 metres where contractors are removing the trees. Incident Controller Geoff Purcell says Fire and Emergency still has a number of crews, heavy machinery and helicopters working on the fire....