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Friday 13 December 2024
Blaze fans fire concerns
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Golden Bay firefighters at the scene of last Thursday's scrub fire in Onekakā. Photo: Supplied. JO RICHARDS
Firefighters’ rapid and co-ordinated response stopped a potentially catastrophic scrub fire in its tracks last week. The fire broke out on Thursday afternoon at a property in Onekakā, after strong winds fanned the embers of a rubbish burn-off carried out four days previously, and set a three-hectare block of dry gorse ablaze. Speaking to The GB Weekly, Tākaka's chief fire officer (CFO) Philip Woolf described Thursday’s conditions – 33 degrees Celsius combined with a strong nor’wester – as “a perfect storm”. Philip said the Onekakā landowner had “done everything right” in monitoring the burn-off in the days leading up to the emergency, and praised him for calling the emergency services at 3.45pm, when it was clear that the conflagration was getting out of control. Shortly after Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) was alerted, crews from
Collingwood, Tākaka and Upper Tākaka brigades arrived to battle the blaze. Less than half an hour later, three helicopters with monsoon buckets were on their way to the scene, having been called in by the ground crew. Once on site, the three aircraft worked in constant rotation, filling buckets from two large ponds situated on neighbouring properties, and dousing the flames, which at times reached a height of around five metres. The firefighters’ tactics proved effective and by 8.30pm, combined efforts on the ground and in the air had extinguished the fire, allowing the ground crews to pack up and return to their home stations. Tākaka’s CFO views the successful operation as a vindication of FENZ’s strategy. “It’s the ability to get mobilised quickly; we got three helicopters in the air 25 minutes after we were on site,” said Philip. “The urgent response dictated the outcome.” He lauded what he called the “multi-agency response” which involved Golden Bay’s three
brigades, three helicopter crews, plus local firms Sollys and TG Contracting. “The operation went really well.” The early season emergency could be seen as something of a wake-up call for the community. “As we head into summer everyone needs to be aware of the risks,” said Philip, who underlined the need to seek FENZ online guidance before lighting any fires. “Go to ‘check it’s alright’ so you understand what fire season we are in and whether you need a permit – and if you do, follow the conditions.” He also stressed the importance of alerting the emergency services as soon as there was any sign of a fire getting out of control. “If in doubt call 111, don’t hesitate – get us on the road.” FENZ’s “check it’s alright” is three-step online tool that indicates if it’s safe to light a fire, whether a fire permit is needed, and facilitates online permit application. To use the FENZ tool, visit: https://www.checkitsalright.nz/
Tākaka’s late-night shopping experiment has produced mixed results. For two Friday evenings in the run up to Christmas, Golden Bay Promotion Association (GBPA) organised markets on the Village Green and encouraged retailers to keep their doors open until 7.30pm. On Monday, GBPA chair Cheryl Elsey noted that the two evenings had generated different responses. “Some retailers were inundated the first week and much quieter the second, and other businesses experienced the reverse.” Her general impression, however, was of the disconnect between online eagerness and the town centre turnouts. “The initiative was well received by the people that I personally came into contact with but, as a whole, we felt there was less support on the actual days than the excitement and enthusiasm that was bouncing around Golden Bay Noticeboard on Facebook.” Last Friday evening, Village Green stalls offered a wide selection of locally produced items including food, jewellery, candles, ornaments and Christmas gifts, while shops and cafes up and down Commercial Street remained open. Amongst the stall-holders, Mark Raffills displayed a range of handcrafted rimu pieces, while Janet Huddleston and niece Lisa laid out an eclectic collection of practical and quirky items. Cheryl is passionate about keeping Tākaka thriving and believes initiatives such as “shop local” and late night shopping play a vital role in achieving that aim. “We don't want to lose our unique shops, galleries and eateries, so we encourage everyone to support this wonderful little town.” As regards the future of late night shopping, it’s perhaps too early to tell whether it’s going to be a regular event, according to Cheryl. “We might look at town being open once a month in the new year but the success of that rides on the business owners being committed to being open and the locals being committed to support them.”
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Inside: Soma GBHS Prizes Via Ferrata Old Thumpers Movies Gabrielle Kervella THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 13 DECEMBER 2024
ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
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