Dump fire rebuke

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 573, 14 February 1995, Page 4

Dump fire rebuke

Re quoted comments by Bob Peck, pertaining to a

fire at the Raetihi dump - (Ruapehu Bulletin 7/2/95): I sympathise with him and the people of Raetihi for any hazards the smog may have caused. Contrary to Bob Peck's statement, I have a 24-hour phone service and was available. Ruapehu District Council' s contract allows me up to 24 hours to extinguish fires, after being notified by them. I was notified of the fire by RDC at 8.45pm on 23 January . At 9. 1 5pm I established that a bulldozer, excavator and water tanker would be required to completely expose the base of the fire in order to totally extinguish it. As I had previously been advised by RDC' s engineer, that "the Raetihi Fire Brigade did not wish to attend fires at the Raetihi dump

except in an emergency", I was reluctant to call them out to damp down the fire, which could possibly have lessened the smog problem in the interim. I was in attendance at the fire by 8.30am on 24 January, not 10am as Bob Peck has stated, although I believe it was 10am when he tumed up to have a look. I ask Bob Peck to provide information as to whom he thinks could have handled the situation more efficiently than I did. It is a pity that our elected member does not bother to clarify a situation before making blatant statements.

Errol

Sue

E.E. ,

Sue & Son