Firefighters were called to 32 firework-related incidents across the country yesterday, following a dry evening of Guy Fawke’s celebrations.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson told 1News it responded to 32 fireworks-related incidents nationally, as of 6am today.
One of those incidents occurred in Auckland’s Stanmore Bay, where fire crews were called to a shed fire shortly before 9.30pm last night.
Two fire trucks were deployed to the scene from Silverdale and Manly, and extinguished the fire by 10.17pm.
Crews confirmed the incident involved fireworks.
Yesterday, a cardboard recycling truck in Northland dumped its load onto a gravel layby after it caught fire due to used fireworks inside the truck.
A grass fire on Auckland’s Mt Wellington last Friday scorched half a hectare of the maunga. Auckland councillor Josephine Bartley told Local Democracy Reporting fireworks were involved although this was refuted by Fire and Emergency.
Fireworks ban in effect for parts of Southland
A fireworks ban for parts of Southland was put in place this morning.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand have banned fireworks entirely near Sandy Point Reserve and Awarua Bay.
It has imposed the ban under Section 52 of the Fire and Emergency Act which allows Fire and Emergency to restrict activities that may start or cause the spread of fire.
Southland District Manager Julian Tohiariki said these areas have been singled out as popular spots for people to let off fireworks and vegetation types that can easily start a fire.
“Although things have been extremely wet in Southland, things are starting to dry,” Tohiariki said.
The ban comes into effect at 8am today, and would remain in place for the next two weeks.