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Tongariro National Park Fire: 1,600 Hectares Engulfed in New Zealand Blaze

A massive fire continues to rage through Tongariro National Park, now covering 1,600 hectares. Fire and Emergency New Zealand has deployed significant air and ground resources to combat the blaze. The park's famous Tongariro Crossing and nearby highways have been closed for public safety. Authorities are still investigating what caused the fire that began on Saturday afternoon.

Key Points: Large Fire in New Zealand's Tongariro National Park

  • Fire has grown from 50 to 1,600 hectares since Saturday afternoon
  • Five fixed-wing planes and 12 helicopters deployed for air operations
  • Four ground teams fighting flames with additional crew support
  • Tongariro Crossing and State Highway 47 closed due to fire danger
2 min read

New Zealand national park fights against large fire

A major fire has consumed 1,600 hectares in Tongariro National Park, prompting evacuations and deployment of aircraft and ground crews.

"air operations were prioritised to fight the fire, with additional aircraft being used - Craig Gold, New Zealand Fire and Emergency"

Wellington, Nov 9

New Zealand's Tongariro National Park has been fighting against a large fire since Saturday, which has now covered 1,600 hectares.

There was no report of casualties or structural damage yet. However, operations have been carried out to evacuate tampers in the national park and people in the nearby facilities. The fire has not been controlled yet.

New Zealand Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Craig Gold said air operations were prioritised to fight the fire, with additional aircraft being used. Five fixed-wing planes and 12 helicopters are being deployed. In the meantime, four teams of firefighters are fighting on the ground with additional crews supporting the aircraft operations, Xinhua news agency reported.

The forest fire was reported to the Fire and Emergency New Zealand on Saturday afternoon, initially covering 50 hectares. Fire brigades and three helicopters were deployed to fight the fire.

Due to the terrain and extent of the fire, overnight operation was deemed too dangerous for active firefighting, and aircraft were all stood down at nightfall on Saturday.

Established in 1887, Tongariro National Park is New Zealand's first national park. It has an area of around 80,000 hectares. The park is a dual UNESCO World Heritage for both its cultural significance to Māori as well as its outstanding natural features.

The Tongariro Crossing and associated areas, which are a world-famous tourist attraction, are now closed due to the fire. A section of State Highway 47 leading to the national park is closed. A no-fly zone is in place covering the airspace over the fireground and surrounding area, so that firefighting aircraft are not endangered by other aircraft or drones.

The cause of the fire has not been established yet.

In 1993, Tongariro became the first property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised criteria describing cultural landscapes, according to the UNESCO website. The mountains at the heart of the park have cultural and religious significance for the Maori people and symbolise the spiritual links between this community and its environment.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
From 50 hectares to 1600 hectares in just days! Shows how quickly forest fires can spread. Good that they're using so many aircraft - reminds me of how we fight forest fires in India's national parks. Stay safe, firefighters!
D
David E
I visited Tongariro Crossing last year - absolutely stunning landscape. It's tragic to see such a UNESCO World Heritage site threatened. The no-fly zone is a smart move to protect the firefighting operations.
A
Ananya R
The cultural significance to Maori people makes this even more devastating. Hope they find the cause soon. Climate change is making these fires more frequent worldwide. We need better forest management globally.
S
Sarah B
While the response seems adequate, I wonder if initial action was quick enough? From 50 to 1600 hectares suggests the fire got out of hand. Still, glad no casualties reported. The firefighters are doing brave work.
V
Vikram M
Five fixed-wing planes and 12 helicopters - that's massive air support! Shows they're taking this seriously. Hope the wind conditions favor the firefighters. Nature can be so destructive sometimes. 😔

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