[ad_1]
Firefighting and helicopter crews fighting an 80-hectare blaze at Waipori Falls have been withdrawn overnight.
New Zealand Fire & Emergency Shift Manager Andrew Norris said a small team would remain at the scene overnight to monitor the blaze, and helicopters and fire crews would return tomorrow morning to continue fighting the blaze.
A police spokeswoman said that no property in the Waipori Falls village appeared to be under threat, but that police officers were on standby tonight to evacuate residents if necessary.
Norris said a large area of brush and brush caught fire near Waipori Falls Rd, around 1.20 p.m.
Eight helicopters with rain pails and fire crews from Waihola, Outram and Dunedin, including a Dunedin Command Unit, continued to fight the fire until 9 p.m.
The fire proved difficult to fight because the area was not easily accessible.
He said that about 75% of the perimeter of the fire had been contained when crews withdrew, but a large area was still burning out of control.
A light rain expected to fall overnight was expected to help keep the fire at bay, he said.
“Every little bit will help.”
Henley resident Bree Thompson previously said she could see flames from her home, which is some distance from the fire.
