Train sparks scrub fires at Mt Maunganui

Four scrub fires kept fire fighters busy. Photo: Cameron Avery.

Scrub fires sparked by trains is causing a headache for Mt Maunganui firefighters.

They attended four separate scrub fires yesterday.

At its peak there were four fire trucks and 16 fire fighters battling the blaze along Maunganui Road.

'We've attended 10 such incidents over the last three week and that's way more than past years,” says station officer Roger Pickett.

'Yesterday's fires were one of the worst so far, because it was threatening nearby properties”.

That fire was along the train tracks between Epic Windows and Doors, and Maunganui Road.

The continuing dry weather is worrying firefighters.

Roger Pickett says these scrub fires caused by sparks on the tracks from trains is becoming a regular occurrence.

'It's going to get worse before it gets better,” he says.

'We've already approached KiwiRail and believe there must be something they can do.

'The other mechanism we have is through the council to ensure KiwiRail maintains the grass along its tracks.”

You may also like....

1 comment

Previous Comment

Posted on 14-01-2019 16:25 | By Chookymac

Added to My Previous comment the TCC were not interested when I phoned them.Their Comment was that is Kiwi Rails problem.Sounded like someone would miss out on their Latte if they had to do something about it


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.