Takitimu Forest fire: Seven helicopters respond in Southland

NZ Herald

25 Oct, 2026 05:23 AMQuick Read

Subscribe to listenAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.Subscribe now

‌

SaveShare this articleCopy LinkEmailFacebookTwitter/XLinkedInReddit

Fire and Emergency said the fire was in a back-country area. Photo / NZME

Seven helicopters were responding to a vegetation fire in Takitimu Forest in western Southland at 5.45pm.

The fire was south of State Highway 94, in a back-country area.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand senior dispatcher and shift manager Daryl Ball said one helicopter was co-ordinating air traffic.

Air traffic
control was required whenever more than four helicopters were operating, he said.

The size of the fire was not yet known.