New Zealand / Corrections And Clarifications

Controlled gorse burning behind massive Hawke's Bay fire

11:46 am on 26 April 2024

Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the third alarm was the highest alert level

A major blaze in Hawkes Bay farmland overnight saw 18 Fire and Emergency vehicles respond.

Fire officers arrived at the scene just after 9.30pm and activated a third alarm, when its scale became apparent.

At its peak, Fire and Emergency said the blaze off River Road in Waiwhare, west of Napier, was 6 hectares in size, and a total of eight pumps, three tankers, and seven support vehicles were in attendance.

Two helicopters were at the scene extinguishing hot spots.

The spokesperson said crew were able to get the fire under control, and between 3am and 5am, vehicles began to withdraw.

No homes or people were in danger.

A person who lives on the property told RNZ the fire started as a controlled gorse burning and got out of control.