Fernhill fire: Man whose hillside home was scorched faces wait to see damage inside
A man whose hillside home was scorched by a 6ha fire that swept through Fernhill on Tuesday is waiting to see how badly damaged it is inside.
The fire near State Highway 50 and the Ngaruroro River bridge was reported to Fire and Emergency New Zealand just before 1.30pm on Tuesday.
One home was destroyed and another was damaged, with wind speeds of up to 90km/h preventing aerial firefighting at times, Fire and Emergency said.
Chap Paul said he was away on holiday when he learned there had been a fire at the property and he returned last night.
“I was supposed to be in Hamilton for Christmas … I heard my house was in amongst all this fire, and I had to come back,” he told Hawke’s Bay Today.
Today he was told his house was partially damaged by the fire and was shown photos of it from the outside, but he did not yet know the extent of the damage.
“It looks like it’s only down the side that’s damaged ... I had plants, tools and stuff out there,” Paul said.
“I’m just hoping it hasn’t gone through to the lounge area.”
Close to 10 residents of Farmhouse Lodge in Fernhill spent the night sleeping in their cars after the fire, which damaged multiple structures.
Others took shelter at friends’ homes or at Flaxmere Hall, with help from Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence.
Among the damaged items left behind in the ashes was a large bus at the bottom of what locals call Puketapu Hill.
Locals told Hawke’s Bay Today they believe the bus was the source of the blaze.
Farmhouse Lodge co-owner Dawson Bliss said a firewood machine on the hill had been badly burned, but from what he knew so far, no house was heavily damaged.
Dawson’s wife and co-owner Novia said some tenants slept in their cars near the lodge overnight.
She stayed with residents until about 11pm, then went to a friend’s house before returning early today with breakfast.
“The most scared moment yesterday was when I didn’t know if I could save the tenants or not ... I even cried,” Novia said.
She says there were about 50 residents living in and around the lodge and, as of that time, she had not been told when residents would be allowed home.
“We won’t have Christmas this time,” she says.
“We already had prepared everything for Christmas as we usually have a Christmas celebration together, but this year, it looks like we can’t.”
Police and fire investigators remained on-site today to try to pinpoint the cause of the fire.
Active firefighting continued into the night as fire crews monitored the now-contained blaze using a pump truck and tanker for flare-ups.
SH50 through Fernhill between Taihape Rd and Omahu Rd has reopened following the fire, with stop-and-go traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place.
NZ Transport Agency has advised the public to expect delays.