"Police seek information following scrub fires"

Please attribute to Constable Gregory Nolet:

Wanaka Police are appealing for information following two scrub fires started by people shooting fireworks from a ute early last month.

At around 5.20pm on Friday 2 November, a roman candle-type firework was lit and fired from the passenger side of the ute on State Highway 6 near the Hawea Dam structure.

The firework sparked a scrub fire on the bank on the west side of the road, which quickly spread to a forested area near 5 houses.

It took fire crews including five helicopters with monsoon buckets to extinguish the blaze, thankfully before it reached the houses.

Another roman candle firework was fired from the same vehicle from a car park at Cameron Creek near Makarora on State Highway 6 at around 6.30pm.

This also started a fire in a grass area, which was put out by the people in the ute.

The ute is described as a dark coloured Mitsubishi Triton with a wooden deck.

Four men in their mid 20s were seen in the ute.

This was reckless and dangerous behaviour that put lives and homes at risk.

Police would like to hear from anyone in the area at the time that witnessed the incidents, anyone who can identify the ute or the four men in it.

They are asked to contact the Wanaka Police on (03) 443 7272.

ENDS

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