Bush fire still burning near Whanganui
Friday 8 Mar 2013 10:07 a.m.
A remote area of gorse and bush north of Whanganui is ablaze for the second day in a row today.
Around 250 acres near Ranana - 45km up Whanganui River Rd - has already gone up in flames and smoke continues to rise from the area.
Two helicopters with monsoon buckets fought the fire for most of yesterday, but stopped late last night.
Two fire trucks have been dispatched to the scene this morning after smoke began to blow into Whanganui township.
Whanganui councillor Jack Bullock was at the scene of the blaze for four hours yesterday.
“At about 9:30pm, it got too dark and the helicopters had to stop. So I’m guessing the fire spread all night,” he told 3 News.
A Fire Service spokesperson couldn’t say whether helicopters would be dispatched again to fight to fire.