What started as a car fire on State Highway 29 in the Lower Kaimai on Saturday afternoon quickly spread into the surrounding bush, said a Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager.

“We received a report of a car on fire at 3.37pm,” said shift manager Mark Richards.

“It started as a car fire. The fire then caught on vegetation on the side of the road and spread into the surrounding bush.

“We had four brigades at the scene.”

Brigades from the Matamata, Tirau, Greerton and Te Aroha stations attended.

NZTA Waka Kotahi closed SH29 Tauranga to Te Poi at 4.12pm due to the large fire.

Motorist were advised to delay their journeys or use an alternative route.

Tauranga/east bound traffic was diverted via SH28, SH5, SH36 then rejoining SH29.  Westbound traffic was in reverse.

“Our brigades left the scene at 5.06pm,” Richards said.

NZTA reopened SH29 at 5.49pm following the road being cleared.

“Extra care is advised on this route,” said an NZTA spokesperson.

Bay of Plenty braces for burning threats of fire

Rising temperatures and dry conditions in the Bay of Plenty have led to over 69 vegetation fires in November, resulting in the implementation of a restricted fire season.

“There hasn’t been significant rain over the winter, so the vegetation has dried,” Fire and Emergency Bay of Plenty District Manager Jeff Maunder said.

Temperatures spiked in early December, and Maunder worries that the winds will dry things out further.

“We’ve got over 500,000ha of commercial forestry conservation land, surrounded by farms, grasses and scrub that could be at risk.”

At the scene?

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