20 hectares of Wairarapa forest burn
20 hectares of Wairarapa forest burn
27 February 2008
published by www.stuff.co.nz
New Zealand — A large team of firefighters kept an overnight vigil last night at the scene of a fierce forest fire in South Wairarapa.
The fire, at Hinakura, 20 kilometres southeast of Martinborough, broke out just after 5am yesterday.
The pine forest, tinder dry in an area gripped by drought, quickly went up in flames.
Within five hours, more than 20 hectares was destroyed. The land, which is flanked by more forestry blocks, is a forestry and farming venture owned by a trust of Wellington and Auckland businessmen.
Fire crews from Wellington bolstered the efforts of more than 40 firefighters.
One firefighter was taken to a Martinborough medical centre suffering from the effects of the heat.
