Fire authority investigation confirms suspicions

The most likely cause of the Wye Creek fire, which was first detected on March 16, was from embers deposited by traction engines that were travelling along the highway at the time, the National Rural Fire Authority Fire Investigation Report has found.

The resulting 739 hectare fire cost a total of $704,583.69, Queenstown Lakes District Council rural fire principal Gordon Bailey said today.

“The report has confirmed our suspicions that the fire started in three spots along the state highway, just after the two traction engines travelled through,” Mr Bailey said.

“Investigators found coal deposits at the scene of three fires which started 3-5 metres from the roadside and witnesses confirmed that the fires were starting in the wake of the steam engines, which could still be seen departing down the road,” Mr Bailey said.

The report eliminated any other likely causes.

The report made the following recommendations:

That the council should recover costs where possible.
That there is a need when fire dangers are high for fire authorities to be informed of intended travel of coal fired machines.
That there is a need for engine owners to be aware that all such machines need to be well maintained so embers cannot escape.
 

“We will be looking at how we can put some policy around those recommendations to ensure that the movement of these vehicles during a high fire risk period are minimised and certainly well managed,” Mr Bailey said.

The council had made an application for funding of fire fighting costs to the Rural Fire Authority, although cost recovery would also be explored.

“Basically it will come down to a matter of insurance, it’s something we will obviously need to explore,” Mr Bailey said.