Wilson's Bay Fire Risk Averted

Date:

Oct 19, 2010

Members of the Queenstown Lakes District Council rural fire response team are pictured relaxing along with other agency fire fighters after today's Wilson's Bay fire risk was averted, just after midday.

The lead agency for the fire was the Department of Conservation, with the burn, reported at 6am taking place on the lakeside of Wilson's Bay on the road between Queenstown and Glenorchy.

At the peak of the blaze, which came within four metres of one property, a number of helicopters were deployed with monsoon buckets and three homes were evacuated. At 10am the fire covered 300 square metres but with the assistance of heavy rain and snow the fire was under control by 12.30pm. The response included members of the Council's horticulture and community services teams and team from Council contractors Asplundh and Downer.

Acting principal rural fire officer Paul Wilson said Council staff and contractors did a 'great job' in what was a 'highly successful interagency response'.

By: Andrea Bunting