A scrub fire, fanned by gusty winds, was swiftly contained yesterday.

Close to 30,000 litres of water was needed to put out the scrub blaze in Arai Te Tonga, Tupapa, that was ignited by a small rubbish heap nearby.

The rapid response from the Airport Rescue Fire Service, Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade and Vaka Takitumu’s Temurimotia Volunteer Fire Brigade had the fire under control.

Six volunteer firefighters from Puaikura, and four on their way, along with four from Teimurimotia, as well as the Airport Fire crew attended the blaze.

Teimurimotia fire chief Alistair Macquarie said the scrub fire started from a small rubbish fire which had spread through dry foliage underneath to the overgrown green section next door.

Coconut trees were also scorched by the blaze.

Owners of the neighbouring property praised the swift response and efficiency of the volunteer fire brigades and Airport Fire.

On Monday, volunteer firemen attended a shed fire.

Macquarie said a woman had been cooking chestnuts on an outside open fire which caught onto a banana tree next door, eventually destroying a shed.

Recently, a scrub fire behind Love Café in Tupapa also got out of hand requiring the services of the fire brigades.

Puaikura fire chief Jason Moorfield said that recently they had been called out to four fires across the island.

According to the Cook Islands Meteorological Services, the country is facing drier conditions in the coming months and water levels are expected to decrease.

Rain-deprived landscapes have dried grass and foliage at ground level, and with wind gusts, heightens the potential for a fire to ignite from flying embers, spreading and creating blazes and threatening properties.

People lighting fires in high winds and dry conditions are being asked to pay attention to warnings from the fire services, be mindful of the weather and to stay with their fires until it dies out.