Fire crews still on alert

Wairarapa Times-Age

Masterton firefighters remained on alert for fireworks-related callouts last night after rain dampened Guy Fawkes celebrations the previous evening.

Masterton fire commander Henry Stechman said yesterday there was still a risk if revellers decided to light up last night.

"The weather was a bit of a dampener on Monday and if there's anybody who didn't use their fireworks that night, there is a chance they'd use them the next night instead, if the weather's clear."

Mr Stechman said the reduced selling season for fireworks - from November 2 to 5 - had made Guy Fawkes "less of an issue for us than it used to be" but fire crews could still not afford to be complacent.

"There's a lot more fireworks that go high into the sky now there are no more skyrockets, and in the wrong weather conditions they could be problematic as well."