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Fire at Tiwai Point - Source: Your Cam -
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A massive fire which broke out in the southern most part of the country has destroyed over 900 hectares on a Department of Conservation reserve.
Over 100 firefighters have been fighting the blaze which began at Tiwai Point near Bluff at about 4.30pm Friday.
Six helicopters joined ground crews to knock down the worst of the fire front.
The blaze reddened the southern skies of Tiwai peninsula as firefighters worked into the early hours of the morning to contain the flames.
"There were a lot of red flames, a lot of smoke and we knew we were gonna be here for a while," says Brian Murphy from the Southern Rural Fire Service.
And on Saturday the damage was clear with about 930 hectares of important DOC land wiped out. The area is home to protected red tussock and several species of unique invertebrates.
"It's a real tragedy, the peninsula has been restoring back since the 60s in parts and it had come a long, long way, so this is really gonna knock it back probably another 50 years," says DOC spokesman Dave Taylor.
DOC says the damage could have been a lot worse if it wasn't for the beach gravel which covers the peninsula and keeps the fire above ground. But even with the flames contained, the work takes its toll.
"It's very taxing," says Murphy. "It's hard physical work, it can be quite frustrating cause you clean something up, walk off and a puff of smoke comes up behind you."
The Salvation Army came to the rescue, providing much needed sustenance for the exhausted crews.
The nearby aluminium smelter runs water lines through the area but there was no risk to its plant or business.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated but it seems a contractor doing weed control may have somehow started the blaze.
The southern rural fire authority will spend the next few days at the scene, dampening down hot spots.
Peterson says about 930ha of wetlands has been burnt between Awarua Bay and the sea and DOC is very upset because a lot of valuable work had been done in the area.
A full investigation into the fire will be launched once it has been extinguished.
