Volunteer firefighters had a busy weekend as they attended to uncontrollable fires within a 48-hour period started by people burning rubbish in Rarotonga.

The volunteer firefighters not only faced the challenge of battling the blaze but the added low water pressure.

Alistair Macquarie, Teimurimotia Volunteer Fire Brigade fire chief has reiterated the message “Don’t light fires.”

He said the island is currently facing very dry conditions and windier and the rate that a fire could spread would be beyond their ability.

 “Even if you are there you can’t control it if it spreads, even if you have a hose.”

Macquarie said unfortunately some individuals have the attitude “this is my place I can light my rubbish fire…” then they leave and the wind picks up and spreads the fire to neighbouring properties putting homeowners at risk.

In Tupapa, a tractor parked in a neighbouring paddock was burnt. ALI MACQUARIE/24111602

On Friday afternoon, a rubbish fire in the Tupapa back road got out of control as the fire spread to the next-door paddock igniting a tractor.

Macquarie was at the checkout counter in Prime Foods with his groceries when he received the call after 5pm.

Unable to get hold of a driver for their tanker he made his way to the fire station in Titikaveka.

Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade fire chief Jason Moorfield and his wife were first at the scene, using two extinguishers to douse the tractor that was on fire.

Macquarie had to refill the tanker from the water mains on the road at Super Brown which took about 20 minutes because the pressure was so low.

On Saturday morning, the first bush fire called in was inland in Matavera spreading towards a couple of units.

Puaikura had two fire trucks at the scene - one to fight the fire and one on standby.

The Airport Authority Crash Fire Unit was also at hand.

Macquarie said this was difficult because of the lack of access.

On his way back to the main road after refilling the tanker at Avana, he received a call to attend another bush fire in Arorangi.

Fortunately, the Puaikura fire brigade were already on their way back to Arorangi from Matavera and had quickly controlled it.

Last weekend in Muri, a resident lit a fire in his paddock on a windy day and left. The fire escalated.

Macquarie said farmers and residents should take more care when lighting fires to clear their sections. However, when it is dry and windy, Macquarie reiterated, “Don’t light fires.”