Coastal gales wreak havoc
25 February 2004

Gale-force winds, gusting up to 180kmh, battered coastal Otago yesterday, fanning a large fire which forced eight families to flee their homes near Fairfield, causing power cuts, felling trees and closing roads.

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Emergency services were at full stretch coping with numerous callouts.

Dunedin bore the brunt of the gales, which caused widespread damage around the city.

The Dunedin City Council's civil defence headquarters was activated as officials began to compile a list of the main damage.

Civil defence and rural fires manager Neil Brown said the Saddle Hill fire, which was the day's major incident, could continue for "several days".

"The fire was fanned by very strong winds, which also meant we couldn't get a helicopter into the area," he said.

Eight homes on Saddle Hill had to be evacuated about 6.40pm after a wind-fanned plantation fire threatened residents' safety.

More than 50 rural and Fire Service firefighters fought the blaze.

Bulldozers were moving into the area last night to build fire breaks to contain the flames.

Civil Defence also received reports of roofs lifting off houses and road closures caused by fallen trees.

Domestic power supplies were also cut in Northeast Valley, Portobello, Broad Bay, Mosgiel, Halfway Bush, Waitati, Brighton, Taieri Mouth and Waikouaiti.

Mr Brown said the widespread nature of the damage was unusual.

"The number of incidents is relatively unusual. These things usually happen in a much more defined area than this."

Metservice spokesman Alan McDougall said the winds were caused by the pressure difference between a southwesterly flow moving across the country ahead of a high in the Tasman Sea and a deep low to the southeast of the Catlins.

"Between the high and this low there is quite a strong wind gradient between these two systems," he said.

The winds were expected to ease off by noon today as they moved northwards up the country.

At 8pm, the wind was blowing at 118kmh and gusting up to 180kmh at Taiaroa Head.

At Dunedin Airport, winds were 65kmh with gusts up to 110kmh, and at the Nuggets winds were averaging 80kmh.

Most scheduled flights yesterday made it in and out of Dunedin Airport.

A Freedom Air spokeswoman said one of its flights from Sydney was diverted to Christchurch because of the wind.

The flight, carrying 93 passengers was due to arrive at the airport just after 2pm, but was rescheduled to arrive at 7.15pm following the unplanned stopover in Christchurch.

An Airways Corporation spokesman said because the wind was blowing from the south straight up the runway, it did not cause the problems it might have otherwise.

Aurora Energy Network said Dunedin had suffered badly from the severe winds with 16 high-voltage feeders being tripped, affecting about 6500 consumers in the greater city area.

The gale-force winds caused havoc on State Highway 1, north of Hampden, last night, with fallen trees blocking the road for about two hours from 7.45pm.

Senior Sergeant Lane Todd, of Oamaru, said multiple calls were received at the height of the winds for trees blown over and blocking the highway. It took about two hours to clear the road and by about 9pm traffic was flowing freely.

Police were also called to an overturned truck at Waianakarua, 27km southwest of Oamaru.

The northbound, fully-laden B train courier truck was blown across the road and on to its side just north of the Waianakarua Hall, about 8pm. The driver was taken to Oamaru Hospital with serious head injuries.

Last night a crane was being taken to Waianakarua from Dunedin to right the truck, which was off the road.

The accident, combined with a fallen tree across the main road just north of Waianakarua, meant the owner of the Millhouse, Barrie McMillan, spent part of last night in a virtual state of siege.

The power to the well-known restaurant and motel complex was also cut for more than 90 minutes about 7.30pm.

"We're cooking by candlelight and gas," he said.

The Millhouse's 10 motel units were full, but life for the guests continued much as usual, despite the high winds.

A small shed at the rear of the Millhouse was smashed when the top of a macrocarpa tree fell on it. An old barn on Mr McMillan's nearby sheep and cattle farm was also "flattened".

He had been taking the events philosophically: "There's not much you can do."

But his children, Grant (12) and Andrew (10), had been captivated by the flurry of activity.

"It's been most exciting for them," he said.

Some North Otago fire brigades had a busy night. The Weston Fire Brigade started about 5pm and, after being called to the Maheno School to pull a large branch off the corner of a classroom, was hoping to return to the station so members could have tea.

The classroom suffered only superficial damage.

Weston deputy fire chief Garry Holland said his and the Kakanui brigades were both called to a small fire at Herbert when a branch fell on to a power line in Troup St.

About 5pm, the Weston brigade also attended a fire at Weston when tree fires were reignited by the wind.

A tree fell across power lines, taking down a power pole, on Roundhill Rd at Kia Ora. The power was turned off while a new pole was installed.

Trees around Oamaru suffered damage with limbs being stripped off by the winds, particularly at Awamoa Park alongside State Highway 1.

As well as coping with the gale-force winds, motorist on all roads had to take care to avoid debris, mainly branches.

Sergeant Roy Appley, of the southern police communications centre, said a patrol car driving along State Highway 1 between Hampden and Maheno narrowly avoided a large piece of roofing iron which blew across the highway.

In Hampden, Len Andrew, owner of Andrew's Takeaways in London St, said the continuing high winds and gusts were the worst he had experienced in 13 years running the business.

A pine tree had fallen in London St, the main street, in late afternoon, narrowly missing a parked car. The tree had subsequently been cut up and removed.

He had closed half an hour early at 7.30pm because of the winds.

His premises, where he also lives, were still being heavily shaken by the winds.

"She's still rattling away. The old power lines are shaking madly."

The Hampden Fire Brigade appliance had been busy attending a series of incidents throughout the evening, he said.

In South Otago, exposed parts of the coastline bore the brunt of the winds, although residents said it was nowhere near as bad as the gale-force winds that ripped through late last year.

Back then, there was widespread damage with trees felled and some roads lifted up during the that storm's peak.

Clutha police said driving was difficult in open areas and urged caution and common-sense, asking motorists to drive to the conditions.

A MetService spokesman said winds at Nugget Point, 30km southeast of Balclutha, averaged 74kmh. On Stewart Island gusts of up to 113kmh were recorded, while Invercargill Airport experienced gusts up to 104kmh.

A truck and trailer unit was also blown over, blocking State Highway 1 just north of Balclutha.

Acting team leader Dave Teale, of the police southern communications centre, said the truck caught by a wind gust 5km north of Balclutha was fully laden and heavy lifting equipment was needed to shift it.

In Waimumu, winds gusting to 120kmh closed the Southern Field Days site, forcing exhibitors to wait until today before setting up their sites.

Organising committee secretary Bev Catto said wind gusts ranged from 60kmh to 120kmh.