Eight Trucks Battle Oreti Beach Fire

Firefighters have been battling a large vegetation blaze on Oreti Beach since just after 3am.

The fire stretches roughly 600 metres along the beachfront. Six pump trucks, two water tankers and additional support vehicles are on scene — a significant deployment for a fire that has now been burning for more than three hours.

The south shift manager said conditions are making it tough going. "Vegetation fire is rather large, with firefighters working against the wind and rain."

Wind and rain might sound like a firefighter's ally, but in this case the wind is pushing the fire and complicating efforts to bring it under control.