Fire crews and two helicopters equipped with night vision equipment worked through the night to contain the  Tiwai Point fire which started about 7pm  on Monday (22 January 2018).

At times the 130ha fire was 400m from the smelter complex and 100m from the power lines.

Fresh crews were bought in this morning to relieve the night shift, working in temperatures  that climed to near 30C this afternoon.

“The crews have done an excellent job keeping this fire contained in some very trying conditions,” said Incident Controller Tony Livingston.

It is crews will be monitoring the area for several days. Currently on site are:

• One command unit
• Six ground crews (including Department of Conservation,  contract forest contractors, Tiwai, industrial brigade and volunteer teams)
• Four  tankers
• Eight aircraft