A raging inferno fuelled by coastal winds that propelled flames up to the heights of nearby coconut trees in Ngatangiia was fortunately doused before reaching nearby properties this week.

The Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade, Takitumu’s Teimurimotia Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Airport Rescue Fire Service pump truck attended the blaze in Ngatangiia on Monday night.

Teimurimotia fire chief Alistair Macquarie said the fire appeared to have started from a shed or beach batch. Wind coming from the seaside was blowing towards Tikioki.

Macquarie received the urgent call concerning the fire at 8.21pm on Monday evening while he was at work at the airport.

He said the information was confusing and he initially understood one of the hotels in the area was on fire.

Therefore, the full deployment of all the fire brigadiers on the island were at the scene.

Puaikura fire chief Jason Moorfield was in the area at the time. He could smell and see the fire glow and responded immediately.

Puaikura’s first response unit was first at the scene followed by their two fire trucks and 12 of their volunteers

Puaikura volunteer firefighter Tarina Moorfield said they used two 2000-litre tanks, which is the capacity of their trucks. They then refilled from the hydrant or Teimurimotia’s water tanker.

Teimurimotia Volunteer Fire Brigade’s two fire tankers were at the scene and six volunteers.

Macquarie said the fire was doused around 10pm.

However, on his way back home to Titikaveka from the airport around 11pm, he saw that the flames had reignited.

Macquarie returned to the Teimurimotia Fire Station for the tanker, then went back to the fire and vigorously doused the area, tapping into the road hydrant and continued working until after midnight.

He explains it takes a lot of water to cool down the core of burnt wood, charcoal, embers, etc., or it will dry out the water, heat up and reignite, especially with the breeze.

“Like when you rub two sticks together heat then turns to ignition fire,” he said.

Teimurimotia used about 50,000 litres of water that night.

Macquarie says people have got to be conscious at night time on the coast when lighting small fires “since you get the onshore breeze at night”.

“We have our normal trade winds at the moment.”

Macquarie added that he had heard some people who wanted to clear their sections were burning their scrub fires and leaving the scene, knowing that the fire brigade would turn up.

He said a scrub fire could spread quickly and cause damage to neighbouring homes and property and that people needed to take more care.

The volunteer fire brigadiers are asking the community to think before lighting fires and to be mindful.

“If you are going to light a rubbish fire, stay with it until it goes out. If you are unsure, hose it down.”