Photo: Photo / AFP
Emergency service agencies are building a joint strategy to stop fires being lit after a spate of blazes in Wairoa and Mohaka over the past three weeks.
At least five fires have been reported over the past few weeks with fire crews still working to extinguish one started on Tuesday night near Ngamotu Road.
Police say it is believed to have been deliberately lit with three others being treated as suspicious.
A second fire began on McIvor Road on Wednesday morning and inquiries into its cause are ongoing.
Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand were meeting on Thursday to develop a joint response to them.
FENZ Hawke's Bay district manager Glen Varcoe said emergency responders were concerned about the fires and the impact they would have on the Wairoa community.
"Having fires in the community can cause a lot of anxiety, especially as our investigators have determined most of these fires to be suspicious.
"These fires have also taken up a lot of time and resources for our people."
He said five different brigades and two helicopters had fought the fire on Tuesday night - with three of those crews later attending a blaze on Wednesday morning.
"We want whoever is responsible to be caught.
"Anyone with information should contact the police."
Detective senior sergeant Mark Moorhouse said police were very concerned about the risk posed to life and property in what was already looking like a dry spell for the region.
"Any person found deliberately lighting fires will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
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