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Tuakau Volunteer Fire Brigade is urging residents to take extra care with fireworks this Guy Fawkes, after a stray firework sparked a roof fire at a Tuakau home last night.
Crews from Tuakau, supported by Pōkeno firefighters, responded to reports of smoke coming from a residential property at about 845pm.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand confirmed three fire trucks attended, and a fire investigator was called to the scene.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Ben Wilson says the fire was caused by a firework landing on the home’s roof, igniting dry debris.
“Fireworks can be unpredictable, and when used near homes, trees, or dry vegetation, the risk of fire increases dramatically,” Wilson says.
“We’re fortunate that this fire was contained quickly but it could easily have been much worse.”
Firefighters managed to confine the blaze to the roof void, preventing further spread to the rest of the house. Crews left the scene about an hour later.
The resident has given permission for photographs of the incident to be shared to raise awareness of the risks associated with fireworks near buildings and dry materials.
Read more: NZ First moves to ban public fireworks sales
The Tuakau Volunteer Fire Brigade is encouraging everyone celebrating Guy Fawkes to follow these safety steps:
- Use fireworks well away from houses, trees, and dry grass.
- Clear gutters and roofs of leaves and debris before lighting fireworks.
- Keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby at all times.
- Ensure working smoke alarms are installed in every home.
- If a fire starts, call 111 immediately.
“Tuakau firefighters are on call 24/7 to protect our community,” Wilson says.
“We simply ask that everyone take care so we don’t see more preventable incidents like this.”
