Bushfire in Awaiti near Paeroa

Today a bush fire broke out in rural Awaiti near Paeroa before being extinguished by firefighters.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) were alerted at 12:40 pm of the fire.

A Fenz spokesperson said three crews, two fire trucks from Paeroa and one from Tahuna, attended the fire.

A helicopter also helped due to accessibility issues for ground personnel.

Fire crews were able to leave the scene at 2.30 pm.

Fenz was unable to confirm whether the source of the fire was lightning or how large the fire was.

MetService’s forecast for the weather in the Tauranga area today is for showers, some heavy with thunderstorms and hail, clearing at night.

MetService meteorologist Gerard Barrow said the lightning had started in Waikato shortly before noon.

There have been about 202 strikes from approximately noon to 4 in the afternoon.

Barrow said that most lightning goes from one cloud to another, but about 20 percent reaches the ground.

“There would have been some lightning bolts that hit the ground,” he said.

Barrow said the regional council had informed them that lightning was believed to have started the bushfire in Awaiti.

“The main activity at the moment is in the west of the Bay of Plenty, and it is expected to continue into the rest of the afternoon and evening.”