The Lake Ōhau wildfire in October 2020 cost over $1.3 million to put out, according to data from Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).
The fire burned through more than 5,000 hectares and destroyed 48 structures and cost FENZ $1,341,933, a report by Stuff said.
The amount is the additional cost incurred beyond the fixed operation costs of FENZ, a representative of the emergency service said. This is based on invoices received by March 21, with the amount likely to go up if other invoices are received.
More than half of the cost was to deploy planes and helicopters for the firefighting effort, at $702,217. Meanwhile, compensation for employees and volunteers were worth $185,273 and $125,010 respectively. These include payments for overtime, travel reimbursements, meals, and other labour-related costs.
Due to the fire’s spread and intensity, FENZ had to request personnel or equipment from other entities, such as the Department of Conservation. These cost $95,268.
The Lake Ōhau fire is also the most expensive in terms of insured damage in recent history, with the Insurance Council of New Zealand estimating $34.8 million in insurance payouts. This exceeded the damage of the 2017 Port Hill fires in Christchurch, which cost insurers $18.3 million, as well as the 2019 Tasman District fires, with insured damages of $3.98 million.
