Tamahere fire - Smoke advice

Sunday April 6, 2008

Waikato District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Felicity Dumble is advising any residents with concerns about the smoke in the area of the fire at Tamahere south of Hamilton to contact a Hamilton City Council environmental helpline.

The number is (07) 838 6699.

Dr Dumble said the smoke was more an irritant than a major health problem. People with existing respiratory conditions who are affected should seek medical attention from either their GP or a medical centre. We still advise people in the area affected by the smoke to keep their windows and doors shut as the smoke is still smelly and offensive. Ideally they should not put out their washing either, she said.

"As the main fuel of the fire was cheese, we were dealing with a very severe barbecue-type fire, with very black, sooty, greasy smoke."

People should not panic if they find their houses and cars blanketed in black soot. Water supplies are unlikely to be affected except for households using roof water, she said.
The advice there is to disconnect the intake until the first period of rain comes and washes the soot from the roof.

 

Mary Anne Gill
Director of Media and Communications
Waikato District Health Board
P.O. Box 934
Hamilton 3240
Ph: 07 834 3684
Fax: 07 834 3673
Mobile: 021 705 213
Email: gillm@waikatodhb.govt.nz
www.waikatodhb.govt.nz