The 91-hectare fire was mostly in young pines and slash. Photo: Supplied / FENZ
A major clean-up is underway at Northland's Waipoua Settlement as residents return after last week's ferocious forest fire.
Iwi leader Snow Tane said about a third of the evacuees returned on Sunday night and by Tuesday about two-thirds were back in their homes.
Those who had yet to return were worried about the possibility of another flare-up and particularly about the health effects of lingering smoke.
Te Roroa Development Group general manager Snow Tane. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf
"There are still some concerns around the potential for the fire to spark back up again, and in particular about smoke inhalation. That's a very real risk with some of the whānau there having respiratory issues."
Tane, who manages Te Roroa Development Group and owns a house in the settlement, said a major clean-up was now underway.
No homes were damaged by fire but the settlement's water supply had been destroyed and roofs were blanketed in ash.
Some homes had sustained smoke damage indoors because the occupants had no time to close windows as they fled the rapidly advancing flames.
A digger expands the containment line around the Waipoua fire. Photo: Supplied / FENZ
Rather than using individual rainwater tanks, homes in the settlement were connected to a single water system that supplied the entire valley.
"That was right in the middle of where the fire ripped through, so that's been destroyed."
Tane said water was drawn from a freshwater source, filtered and pumped into three holding tanks, and then reticulated through the settlement.
"The tanks are still there, but the infrastructure around them's gone and the pump shed that had that had our filtering system, that's gone. So there's no drinking water now."
In the meantime, until the system could be rebuilt, Te Roroa was providing residents with safe drinking water.
Tane said the firefighting effort was "looking really good" with firefighter numbers further reduced today, and the only concern was possible high winds on Wednesday.
Gruelling physical work with hand tools and hoses is the only way to put out the Waipoua fire. Photo: Supplied / FENZ
Fire and Emergency's focus continued to be on dampening down hot spots across the 91-hectare fire ground.
Incident controller Phil Larcombe said 56 firefighters, four tankers and two diggers were on the ground Tuesday.
Contract and Department of Conservation crews will keep mopping up the blaze for the rest of this week.
"We'd like to thank the local community and Te Roroa for their manaakitanga while we've been here. Thanks too for all the messages of support for our crews, they're greatly appreciated."
A total fire ban was now in force across the west and north of Northland.
Map showing areas in the north and west of Northland where a total fire ban will come into force on Saturday. Photo: Supplied / FENZ
Larcombe said that meant no outdoor fires were allowed and all existing fire permits had been revoked.
Anyone unsure of the rules in their area could go to checkitsalright.nz for the latest advice.
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