Smoke was seen over the hills behind Paeroa on February 11, as fire broke out at the Tirohia Landfill and Energy Park.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson confirmed the agency was alerted to the fire at 11.34am. Ten crews from Paeroa, Te Aroha, Pūriri, Turua, Waihī, and Ngatea responded to the incident. Among the firefighters was Hauraki District Council Mayor Toby Adams, who had to call an early recess to the council meeting he was chairing. A helicopter was also sent out to assist.
The fire was burning in around 100m x 50m of rubbish, the spokesperson said, and the cause was undetermined. All Fire and Emergency personnel had ceased operations and left the scene by 5pm.
