New Zealand Local Weather Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Suezy on January 23, 2013, 05:39:29 PM
-
Army's live firing sparked large scrub fire
By Kurt Bayer KurtBayerAPNZ
UPDATED5:11 PM Wednesday Jan 23, 2013
Fire at the New Zealand Army's West Melton Rifle Range. Photo / Geoff Sloan
The massive scrub fire which broke out at a New Zealand Army base today was sparked by live firing by soldiers, the Army has admitted.
The New Zealand Defence Force has launched an investigation into how the fire was started.
The Burnham Military Training Area is based on land at West Melton, outside of Christchurch, which has been plagued by fires over the past fortnight.
The land is largely browned off, extremely dry, and the Fire Service have warned against any fires in the area.
Now, the Army is trying to work out how the live firing - which include smallarms fire and possibly grenades - was able to start today, and spread quickly, buffeted by strong, hot, dry nor-west winds.
Incident controller Sergeant Greg Fagg of the 3rd Emergency Response Troop based at Burnham Military Camp, confirmed there was rifle training for infantry soldiers from Burnham today.
"As a result of our training activities a fire has started,'' he said.
"We'll be investigating exactly what sparked it off.''
Houses near West Melton Airport were evacuated and nearby property owners were told to prepare to leave after the fire broke out around noon.
One soldier was hurt trying to put the fire but his injuries were not serious.
The fire is now largely contained on the north side of the Old West Coast Rd.
Fire Service and police are continuing to work to extinguish the flames and monitoring wind conditions.
A total of 60 Fire Service personnel and 40 police staff were involved in the response this afternoon.
Up to six helicopters and 18 ground-based appliances have been used.
The Old West Coast Rd has been opened after it was closed for several hours.
Police say there have been no reports of damage to houses or buildings.
- APNZ
Copied from The NZ Herald
-
"As a result of our training activities a fire has started,'' he said.
"We'll be investigating exactly what sparked it off.''
They were using Live rounds of ammunition - and they still dont get it. Hope this comes up at our local community board meeting..
We get told not to mow lawns after mid morning in case we stricke a rock or stone - which could start a fire.
Not to park on the grass verge with a hot car exhaust as we have had fires start sfrom this before.
Do not throw cigarette butts out of car windows - this is how the Halkett fire started the othr day.
There are loads of things we do not do when we have a fire danger. Obviouisly the Army has not heard of it at all. Surprise - surprise.
-
I cant think of anything to say to that, that would not have me thrown out of here !!!!!
What do they have between there ears Suezy? Lungs.
-
Much lower down on the anatomy !!!!
-
One News says, that the army had the right to under take the training to day.... :o But one must wonder who made that call, I mean with the way thing are like down there
-
Yes Brendon they do have a right to do what they do down there - but and a big but too. During the time when we had the big earthquake of 7.1 mag quake they decided to have underground explosions of bombs that also cracked some patios and further frayed nerves that were already frazzled from the quakes. If so many people complain they have to stop what they are doing. Forget the amount of complaints they have to receive - and I was one of them.
With the fires we are getting and also one from where that one started on Army land the other day and later contained - you would think that with the dryness of the area - the howling nor western - that someone with rank would have thought that to start another fire was not on - or the possibility of starting one - which they did - from either live ammunition or the grenades they were using. I am only pleased I do not live closer to where they practice.
When we have a fire danger time like we have at the moment - you would think that sense would prevail in our conditions as they are.
I do not mind them practicing one little bit as they have to do it somewhere as after all they are our soldiers and serve in all nasty areas overseas and do a very good job but and this is where the big but comes in - not in times that we ar getting at the moment.