A RESIDENT living across from a burning pine forest in Nabou tried to protect nearby power poles with a small bucket of water on Friday as strong winds drove the blaze forward.
Tupou Veigo, whose home faces the pine plantation, watched the fire advance from the corner of the property while sitting on his porch with his wife.
“We went further down to see the breeze, we thought it was going to go inside, so we took a walk to the side,” he said.
“It was our opportunity to test the fire, but the wind was very strong, we couldn’t do anything.”
Mr Veigo said a lack of water and manpower made it nearly impossible to contain the flames once they took hold in the dry pine and surrounding vegetation.
He did not contact the National Fire Service, saying the blaze was already spreading rapidly and would have caused significant damage before crews could arrive and clear firebreaks.
“When there is a fire, nobody can control it because there is no manpower.
“There is a water problem now. It is very difficult because of the pine and vegetation, and everything is going up in flames.”
Mr Veigo attributed the blaze to deliberate lighting, suggesting hunters, farmers or passers-by with grievances against landowners may have started it overnight. He urged people to obey fire laws and called on the government to act.
