Fire crews continue to fight a scrub fire in the Porirua seaside area of Titahi Bay on Friday morning.
It began late on Thursday night and northerly winds pushed a veil of smoke from the blaze over Wellington’s northern suburbs. Smoke was also reported in the Hutt Valley and the Wellington coastal suburb of Miramar.
About 7.15am Friday, Fire and Emergency NZ said eight crews were still working to bring the vegetation fire under control. Helicopters with monsoon buckets would also be working on Friday morning.
The fire was burning over about 10ha in Whitireia Park, and people were asked to stay away from the area. No homes were at risk, Fenz said.
Smoke coming off the fire about 7.30am Friday FRANCES CHIN/STUFF
Additional rural firefighters were being brought in on Friday morning to support and relieve urban and rural crews who had been working overnight.
Fenz was alerted to the blaze at 11.04pm on Thursday, and the first crews arrived by about 11.10pm.
Crews and specialist appliances from across Wellington were called in to the incident.
Residents in Wellington’s northern suburbs woke to the sight of a red glow in the sky and the smell of smoke in the air.
Commuters travelling into Wellington city from the north were also driving through heavy smoke over the motorway in the central Porirua area.
Crews have been fighting a scrub fire overnight in the Porirua seaside suburb of Titahi Bay SUPPLIED
But Porirua City councillor Mike Duncan, who lives in Titahi Bay, said there wasn’t much smoke in his part of the suburb early Friday, although he could see smoke coming off part of Whitireia Park.
He had become aware of the fire about 12.30am when he was woken by the sound of trucks and other vehicles driving up his road. The power had also been out at that time.
About 7am he could see two helicopters with monsoon buckets in the area.
Fire crews from across Wellington were sent to Titahi Bay overnight to fight a scrub fire that was continuing to burn at down on Friday. SUPPLIED/SIMON BRADWELL
Fenz said smoke was affecting a large part of Porirua, and the National Public Health Service had advised that people in an area where there was smoke should go inside, close the windows and doors and turn off air conditioning units.
Anyone who had been exposed to the smoke and was feeling unwell should contact Healthline (0800 611 116) or ring their doctor for advice.
Smoke may irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and airways. Symptoms could include watery or sore eyes, dry or sore throat, sore nose, cough, tightness of the chest or difficulty breathing.
Smoke pouring from the fire overnight. SUPPLIED/WILL DOUGHERTY
In healthy people, most symptoms disappeared soon after exposure to smoke ended and did not cause long-term health problems.
Smokers, the elderly, children, and those with heart disease, asthma or other lung disease were at the greatest risk of harm from smoke inhalation.
People should avoid exposure to smoke if possible.
FIRE AND EMERGENCY/SUPPLIED A specialist hazardous materials unit, eight fire trucks and a tanker were at the scene of the Transmission Gully crash, along with a command unit.
A fuel spill on Transmission Gully after a crash between a fuel tanker and another vehicle remains at ‘risk of explosion’ and another tanker has been brought in to remove the remaining fuel.
Wellington motorists can expect delays after the early morning crash on Tuesday which closed Transmission Gully State Highway 1 between Pāutahanui and Paekākāriki.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said crews were notified at 5.40am of the significant spill after the crash near the Paremata Haywards Road on-ramp.
Fire and Emergency group manager Gareth Hughes said a second fuel tanker was being brought to the scene to decant the remaining fuel.
“Until that is complete, there is still a risk of an explosion so the road is remaining closed,” Hughes said.
A specialist hazardous materials unit, eight fire appliances and a tanker were at the scene, along with a command unit, the spokesperson said.
A police spokesperson said there were no reports of injuries, but confirmed fuel was leaking from the tanker.
The northbound and southbound lanes of the motorway were closed and police advised motorists to avoid the area. The road was expected to be closed for some time.
As of 8am, fire crews had isolated the fuel leaking from the tanker by setting up a dam, a spokesperson said.
Hughes said it was not yet known how much fuel had been lost from the tanker and volunteer and career firefighters “have worked hard to prevent it from reaching an environmentally sensitive area”.
An environmental protection officer was on their way to the scene.
Waka Kotahi said the stretch of SH1 between Pāutahanui and Paekākāriki was closed as of 6am due to the crash approximately 3km south of the Paekākāriki offramp.
The transport agency said motorists should expect delays and avoid the area.
Motorists heading northbound were urged to take the State Highway 58 from Pāutahanui onto State Highway 59, then SH1 after Paekākāriki.
Meanwhile, southbound travellers should use SH59 from Paekākāriki onto State Highway 1 at Porirua.
Traffic congestion was heavy and delays were already occurring as commuters took the alternate SH59 route, Waka Kotahi said.
“Drivers heading in and out of Wellington can expect significant delays while the highway remains closed, and the crash scene is cleared,” the transport agency said.
WAKA KOTAHI/SUPPLIED The Transmission Gully Motorway has been closed by a crash between Pautahanui and Paekakariki.
A bush fire in Paremata erupted behind the Paremata railway station and briefly closed State Highway 59 – Photo: Russell Postlewaight
Conor Knell – STUFF
State Highway 59 was temporarily closed near Paremata, north of Wellington, overnight on Sunday after a bush fire erupted in the vicinity of the train station.
Emergency services rushed to the scene around midnight, with nine fire vehicles in attendance as well as police and ambulance.
The last vehicle left the scene at 4:40am, with no reports of injuries, fatalities or property damage to the train station.
State Highway 59 was closed briefly to allow hoses to be run across the highway. However, all roads were fully reopened by 4:30am.
A controlled burn done by Fire & Emergency NZ for television illustrates just how quickly a home can take light. – FIRE AND EMERGENCY NZ
You’ve heard the urban myths about domestic appliances bursting into flames and consuming their owner’s houses – but a quick look at the facts shows that the real culprit is likely to be the humans who use them.
Statistics from Fire & Emergency NZ show that in the last five years, 294 fires were caused by “failures to clean” (for example, forgetting to clean the lint out for your dryer), 284 fires were caused by people putting “combustible” things too close to the heater, and 258 were from the careless disposal of cigarettes, embers or ash. Unattended cooking still reigned supreme however, coming in at 893 occurrences.
We’re tired when we get home from work, we’re desperate to get warm, we get bored or distracted – we’re only human. It’s easy for the sensible precautions to go in the “too hard” basket.
If the principal advisor of fire risk management for the Auckland region, Mike Shaw, could drive any message home about fire safety and appliances, it would be simply to always read the instructions.
Here’s a common sense rundown for home appliances that Fire & Emergency NZ would like us to keep in mind.
DRYERS
It’s been said before and we’ll say it again – don’t leave your dryer running when you go out. – JANE USSHER/NZ HOUSE & GARDEN
It’s simple – remove the lint from the dryer after every use, make sure the dryer is well ventilated and don’t turn it on and then go out.
Static electricity and build up of heat can cause dust, lint and chemical residue on clothing to catch fire.
If you’re a regular user of hair or massage oil, your towels can pose a particular fire risk.
“Over time the oils become impregnated into the fabric,” said Shaw. It doesn’t take much for these to catch light, especially if your dryer doesn’t have an automatic-off switch.
DISHWASHERS
Stacking your dishwasher correctly really is an art – and an important safety measure.
A dishwasher bursting into flames seems like an oxymoron, but what this is most often caused by is poor stacking.
“If you load a small plastic lid into a large slot and it falls through the cage onto a heater element during the drying cycle, it will catch fire,” said Shaw.
MICROWAVES
When you are planning a kitchen, leave space around your microwave. – RESENE
The biggest problem with microwave fires, other than improper things being put inside (we all know cutlery is a no-no) is smothering the extractor fans.
“You need an area around the device,” said Shaw.
So if you’re building a new kitchen and intend on including a microwave, make sure to factor in enough space around it. In an existing kitchen, though tempting, don’t try to make it look cute by stacking with cookbooks or knick-knacks, it could be your undoing.
TOASTERS
Toasters put out a lot of heat so if you store it in an enclosed area, pull it out into the open before use. – JACKIE MEIRING/NZ HOUSE & GARDEN
Obviously due to the nature of a toaster, there’s going to be a lot of hot air coming out the top. Don’t run your toaster inside a cupboard or underneath a shelf or bench.
Amelia Macandrew, Customer Relations Manager, AA Insurance, recommends playing it safe and keep your toaster turned off at the wall when you’re not using it.
“Turn off all non-essential electrical appliances at the wall before you go to bed or work,” she said.
DVD PLAYERS, SKY-BOXES AND GAME CONSOLES
Televisions and DVD players need room to ventilate so don’t stack things on them. – RESENE
Consider this just one more reason why playing Xbox all night is a bad idea. Extended use causes devices like this to heat up.
“Things like DVDplayers and sky-boxes have vents which shouldn’t be covered,” said Shaw.
Apply the microwave principles above and go to bed for goodness’ sake.
HAIR STRAIGHTENERS
Hair dryers are quite a common cause of domestic fires.
A “very common” source of domestic fires is hair straighteners being accidentally left on and put down on a soft surface like carpet, a couch or a bed, said Shaw.
Make a habit of unplugging it from the wall when you’re done.
SLOW COOKERS AND OVENS
Slow cookers are handy and make delicious food, just make sure to use it correctly. – MARION VAN DIJK/STUFF
Shaw is a fan of slow cookers like many of us and said dangers with such a device will relate to how it is used. It’s fine to set and forget your slow cooker, but make sure that it is set up on a clear bench and not sitting on its own cord.
However tempting, it is not recommended that ovens are left on while you pop to the shops.
OIL COLUMN HEATERS AND ELECTRIC BLANKETS
Even if you have a thermostat, it’s not recommended that you leave your heater on when you’re asleep or out. – iSTOCK
Whilst perhaps the safest of heaters, Shaw does not recommend leaving your oil column heater on overnight or when you’re out, even if it has a thermostat.
When you are using it or any heating device, stick to the “heater-metre rule”.
“Keep furniture, clothing, curtains and toys a metre away from heaters and fireplaces,” said Macandrew. “[And] always turn off your electric blanket before getting into bed.”
PHONE AND COMPUTER CHARGERS
Charging devices need space to breathe. – 123RF
Phone chargers causing fires is another one that’s on us apparently. “It’s misuse,” said Shaw. “Anything that’s charging a battery gets warm.”
Leave your phone on a hard surface like a table when charging, and without anything on top of it. Do not put it in your bed or under your pillow.
“Think of a power cord like a hose with water going through,” said Shaw. “Don’t put, for example, a table leg on a computer power cord, it can cause a heat build up.”
MULTI-BOARDS
Similarly, Shaw recommended being wary of plugging too many things into multi boards, or buying cheap versions that don’t have a surge switch. Macandrew agreed.
“During winter when a greater number of heating appliances are used, we recommend Kiwis take care not to overload or smother multi-boards and sockets to avoid overheating,” said Macandrew.
“Don’t overload multi-boards and always untangle appliance cords to make sure there’s no fraying.”
MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF A firefighter’s wife says the negative impact FENZ has had on her family was “life changing”. (file photo)
Extreme overtime, financial hardship, and mental trauma are the things her husband is forced to deal with, the wife of a firefighter says.
FENZ personnel across the country are currently striking for better working conditions after mediation talks with FENZ stalled, citing broken equipment, extreme overtime, no health insurance, and poor mental health support among the many issues they are facing.
Nelson senior station officer Brodie Macgregor is currently taking part in the strike. He has worked as a firefighter for 19 years.
Macgregor’s wife, Alison Watts, said the experience of being married to a firefighter working for FENZ has been difficult for her.
“It’s hard… I don’t even know where to start.”
Part of this was the overtime her husband worked, Watts said. While it had initially started off as an occasional occurrence, Macgregor was currently having to work overtime at least once a week.
Watts said her husband felt a responsibility to work these hours as he was a dedicated firefighter. However, Macgregor was “beyond exhausted,” and was feeling disillusioned with the job he once loved.
“It’s heartbreaking to see him this way.”
Despite the mental and physical cost of working so many hours, the family was reliant on overtime, as they were finding it harder to cope with the rising costs of food and living. Macgregor’s wages did not reflect this increase at all, Watts said.
“He is underpaid, undervalued, and overworked, and something has to change. We can’t continue this way.”
Macgregor said, in Wellington, he worked 70-80 hour stretches in eight day shifts. In Nelson, he works one additional 14 hour-shift of overtime a week.
BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF FENZ are often the first to the scene of distressing events, including car crashes and medical call-outs. (file photo)
In Nelson, Macgregor’s rent is half his base salary. An entry level firefighter makes $46,000 a year, which was barely above minimum wage. They made less than FENZ’s lowest paid administrators.
Macgregor said the most important part of the industrial action was, to him, the need for psychological support.
He had attended around 200 medical call-outs a year at his previous job in Wellington, which would often involve entering peoples’ homes and interacting with the patient’s distressed family.
These call-outs took a psychological toll on frontline firefighters. Two years ago, a member of Macgregor’s watch took his own life.
Macgregor had to tell his watch that one of their members had died. The crew wasn’t given any support by FENZ to deal with this, Macgregor said.
FENZ national deputy commander Brendan Nally said, when the member of Macgregor’s watch committed suicide, it was a deeply saddening situation.
Nally himself said he had served with the firefighter, and the time was upsetting for everyone involved.
He said support was offered, including Welfare Officer visits, peer support and individual support for brigade and family members.
“Out of respect of the family, we won’t be commenting on this situation any further.”
Macgregor said while psychological support is offered to firefighters, it relies on “ad hoc” referral. There was no ongoing sort of support, or monitoring for wellbeing.
Macgregor associates this with upper management not being familiar with medical call-outs, instead remembering the days when firefighters mostly attended car accidents.
“The support isn’t enough… the front line is screaming out it’s not.”
Watts said she was kept awake at night by the trauma of what her husband had seen; knowing he had been called out to murders, suicides, infant deaths, and car accidents.
“This is not okay to pile this on real human beings and expect it to have no ill effect.”
While their “fire service family” was a group of men and women who the couple could call on for support, there was nothing from above, Watts said. She fully supported the strike.
“I hope this brings about the change that must happen for all of our sakes.”
Nally said FENZ recognised responding to emergencies could be psychologically demanding. FENZ offered free counselling, and other professional psychological support to its firefighters.
FENZ encouraged all firefighters to use these services, which could be accessed through self-referral or work-place referral, which was FENZ’s safety, health, and wellbeing team.
“We have offered in bargaining to continue to work with New Zealand Professional Firefighter’s Union to improve and develop our support and education further in this area.”
Nelly said the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) and FENZ were currently in a process to re-engage constructively in bargaining.
A fire at a block of units in Porirua that left up to two people seriously injured is being treated as a suspected arson, emergency services say.
The fire, which began in centre of three social housing units after midday on Monday in the suburb of Tītahi Bay left a giant hole in a roof, blackened stairs and sparks still inside flying at 5pm.
RACHEL THOMAS/STUFF The fire has left the set of three units in Titahi Bay at high risk of collapse, Porirua senior station officer Andrew Walker, front, says.
“It’s a suspicious fire at this stage, so we’ll hold a scene examination tomorrow talking all the witnesses and see what comes out in the wash,” Detective Sergeant Dave Jones of the Wellington Crime Squad said.
No charges had yet been laid and no one was in custody, he said.
“If it is arson, and it looks strongly like it is, we’ll investigate with a view to laying charges, but it is early days.”
SUPPLIED Ten fire trucks attended a fire at a block of houses in Tītahi Bay on Monday.
The fire has left the units at “high risk of collapse” Porirua senior station officer Andrew Walker said.
Fire services would maintain a presence at the units overnight, Walker said.
Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after lunchtime.
“Both sides of the unit were fully involved, which means flames coming out the windows and doors,” Walker said.
RACHEL THOMAS/STUFF Firefighters dampen down hotspots on Monday evening in the aftermath of the fire.
The fire appeared to begin in the middle unit in a block of three 2-storey flats, he said, “but where in that middle unit, I can’t say… because it’s not safe to go in yet”.
Two patients are in Hutt Valley emergency department in a serious condition.
No one was reported missing.
”Due to the risk of building collapse, we have not done a full search, nor will that be done at this stage,” Walker said.
RACHEL THOMAS/STUFF Porirua senior station officer Andrew Walker at the scene of the Tītahi Bay fire.
Some fire personnel were seen on the outdoor balcony of the centre unit on Monday evening.
It was “highly likely” there was asbestos in the roof of the building due to its age, he said.
While that was unconfirmed, crews had gone through decontamination and the scene was being treated with foam.
There was no risk to the nearby public from the asbestos, Walker said.
The units had been evacuated due to the fire and smoke, but no other evacuations had taken place, he said.
RACHEL THOMAS/STUFF The aftermath of a serious house fire in Tītahi Bay, Porirua. Blackened stairs could be seen in the unit on the right.
Emergency workers on the scene were wearing hazmat suits and could be seen wrapping possessions in plastic on the front lawn.
The scene would be handed over to fire investigators once the fire was fully extinguished, and likely begin investigating on Tuesday, Walker said.
The units are understood to belong to Te Āhuru Mōwai, a social housing arm of Porirua-based iwi Ngāti Toa.
Ten fire trucks attended a fire at a block of houses in Tītahi Bay on Monday. – Supplied
Police say at least one person has been injured in a fire at a block of flats at Tītahi Bay in Porirua.
Emergency services including police, fire and Wellington Free Ambulance were called to an address on Dimock St at 2.20pm.
Fire and Emergency said 10 fire trucks had been deployed to the fire, and recent strikes by the firefighters union would not impact on how they respond to emergencies.
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