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A fire that engulfed a shed on a Stanmore Bay residential property on Guy Fawkes evening, Tuesday, November 5 has prompted a warning ahead of the summer fire season.
Three trucks responded to the incident on Matai Road, which was reported at 9.25pm. Stanmore Bay residents watched on as fire crews from Silverdale and Manly stations worked for nearly two hours to control the blaze, with the last truck leaving the scene at 11.13pm.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said the fire was likely to have been caused by fireworks, with burning vegetation then spreading to a shed on the residential property. There was significant damage to the shed, but the fire was extinguished before it could spread.
“One fire caused by fireworks is too many. It is a preventable fire we have to attend. It is also a totally unnecessary fire that may take our crews away from another emergency,” Fire and Emergency community education manager Tom Ronaldson said.
Neighbour Jamie Gibson said he heard his wife yelling that she could see fire.
“A firework must have landed in some native toi toi that was up against a garage before the fire quickly took hold at the bottom of the shed,” Gibson said.
As they waited for firefighters, Gibson and other neighbours attempted to extinguish the rapidly spreading fire with garden hoses, fire extinguishers and buckets of water.
“The fire extinguishers worked really well, but with the amount of native bush there, we were fighting a losing battle. We were all so grateful for the firefighters’ quick response,” Gibson said.
The sale of fireworks in New Zealand is restricted to a four-day period, November 2 to 5. This year, 109 fireworks-related incidents were reported to Fire and Emergency between November 2 to 10, with 23 of these incidents being in the Waitemata district. Ronaldson said this was more than double the amount for the same period last year
And the risk doesn’t end when firework sales stop.
“We know people stockpile fireworks for summer, then let them off over New Year when it can be drier and hotter, and there is greater risk of causing a wildfire,” Ronaldson said.
Manly firefighter Shaun Gartland warned that lighting outdoor fires under a fire restriction or ban was not just illegal, but highly dangerous.
“Dry conditions significantly increase the risk of wildfires, making even a small spark capable of setting off a large blaze,” Gartland said.
Ronaldson asks that Hibiscus Coast residents and visitors to enjoy the beaches responsibly over the next few months.
“We appreciate people being thoughtful about fire risk, and avoiding activities that can generate heat or sparks and cause fires on particularly hot, windy and dry days. This includes firing up barbecues, campfires or fireworks.”
If you’re not sure whether to light up, go to www.checkitsalright.nz first to see what the restrictions are in your area.
Additional reporting by Jayden Murdie
