Fire and Emergency NZ received numerous calls from the public around 8.20pm regarding a bush fire near the beach entrance at Tomahawk. Initially, one crew from St Kilda responded, but the situation escalated, leading to the deployment of four fire trucks from various parts of Dunedin and two rural fire trucks.
Efforts are underway to fully contain and extinguish the fire, which spans approximately 100 meters in length and a few meters in depth. Thankfully, no homes or other properties are currently at risk.
Firefighters on the scene believe that fireworks ignited the blaze, emphasizing the importance of exercising caution with fireworks, especially in the dry conditions prevalent in Otago and Southland.
A police spokeswoman confirmed road closures in the vicinity to facilitate firefighting operations.
Witness Heike Schultz described the scene, stating, “Around 8.20pm, we heard crackling sounds emanating from the dunes, with thick clouds of smoke drifting towards us as we walked on the beach. Multiple areas of the dunes were ablaze, but fire crews acted swiftly to contain the situation.”
