Balmoral Fire Update # 2

7 September 2024

The large vegetation fire at Tokarahi in Waitaki is now contained.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Incident Commander Bobby Lamont says the fire flared up earlier today with flames reaching six to eight metres.

“Then around 1pm, rain forced our three ground crews working with hand tools to stop work,” he says.  

Air operations were also sat down due to weather.

“Rain and cooler weather has helped to suppress the fire and a late afternoon flyover found no evidence of smoke or hotspots," he says.

"We have now stopped all firefighting operations for the day. The landowner will monitor the fire ground over night and crews will be back at 6.30am tomorrow morning to continue operations."

The vegetation fire started yesterday around midday and has burnt through 806 hectares of farmland, tussock and scrub.

The next update will be around 9am tomorrow.