New Zealand

Out of control burn-offs cause Waikato scrub fires

14:02 pm on 7 January 2017

Two vegetation fires which began after the burn-off of felled trees got out of control have been contained.

The Fire Service said four crews were at the scene of the fire on Settlement Road in Puni. Several homes were initially said to be under threat from the spreading fire, but the Fire Service said the fire had now been contained.

An earlier gorse fire in Mangatangi in Waikato, that also threatened three houses in the area, was also contained.

The Fire Service earlier said three dwellings were under threat from the spreading fire, and the occupants moved their cars away from the scene.

But the fire has no been contained and is no longer threatening the homes, said the Fire Service.

Both fires were said to be caused burn-offs that got out of control.