Firefighters are continuing to dampen down an area of bush behind Otumoetai Intermediate after it caught fire this morning.
Mount Maunganui firefighters were called to Carlton Street Reserve where a section of bush containing toi toi and punga caught fire about 10.30am.
Firefighters put out a fire in a bush behind Otumoetai Intermediate today.
Otumoetai resident Grant McLean was out on his deck when he saw smoke billowing from the bush near the creek.
'It looks as though it is coming from the creek area, which is actually quite difficult to get to.
'I looked out and thought someone was just burning off, then I saw some flames and decided to call the fire service.”
Smoke was seen coming from the bush by nearby residents. Photo: Grant McLean.
He says he wouldn't be surprised if it was caused by a group of students smoking a cigarette, as this has happened in the past.
'There have been a few fires over the years at the reserve.
'We had a working bee earlier in the year to clean up the area.”
Grant lives about 500m from the reserve and says there was a 'decent” amount of smoke coming from the bush.
Smoke coming from the bush fire behind Otumoetai Intermediate. Photo: Grant McLean.
2 comments
Great pics
Posted on 01-06-2012 13:46 | By Ampaul
Great pictures.
Ye Olde Conservation Area
Posted on 01-06-2012 17:06 | By tabatha
I wonder how many of the present staff and pupils know the history of that area. Original the small playground area to the left of the area shown was to be a 400 metre running track with a full size rugby field in the centre and the side tiered for seating. When the workman started on the area al; was well until a layer of clay slipped out across the stream and it was deemed to dangerous and not a good idea. The area where the fire was had been planted by many students over the years to turn it into a conservation area and at one stage a certificate was presented to the school for trying to turn a little urban area into a bit of bush in the town.Also an area near the boundary was made into a pond. The late Cliff Matthews was allowed to set explosives, no houses nearby then, and blast the area. Peter Densem was the then Principal of the school. Brings back many memories to an ex teacher of the school. Who remembers Pat Whittaker, groundsman, tying a stack to the top of a Kauri tree that grew crooked? It was always the top piece and the trunk did stay straight. Brian the editor of the Weekend Sun may have even helped top plant some of the trees that were there.
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