By Melina Etches of 
Aitutaki’s Crash Fire firefighters reacted swiftly and carried out a back-burn near homes, clearing approximately 20 metres of dry fuel uphill from the residential area. Photo: Cook Islands News / Alan Nanai
A bushfire that broke out around midday Sunday (Monday NZT) in Aitutaki - the Cook Islands second-most visited island - caused anxiety among residents and tourists as smoke drifted across homes and nearby resorts.
While no property damage or injuries were reported, the incident has renewed calls for tighter fire-safety rules as the island faces extremely dry conditions.
Aitutaki mayor Nick Henry said he is still awaiting an official report, but the blaze is believed to have started on the far side of the hill, an area where fires have occurred multiple times over the past decade.
Possible causes include uncontrolled rubbish burning or deliberate scrub fires set to chase pigs - both long-standing issues on the island.
When the fire was first seen cresting the hill in the Apiripiri area in the village of Amuri, Aitutaki's Crash Fire firefighters reacted swiftly.
They carried out a back-burn - a controlled fire that firefighters deliberately set to stop an approaching wildfire, near homes, clearing approximately 20 metres of dry fuel uphill from the residential area.
"That was really fortunate," said Henry. "By the time the main fire reached the backburn, there was nothing left for it to feed on."
Their efforts prevented the blaze from reaching properties, and no homes, lives, or livestock were lost.
Although the fire was contained, smoke spread thickly across nearby homes and resorts, disrupting residents and visitors.
"Tourists in the area were frantic, and families with small children had to leave their homes for the day because the smoke just hung around," Henry said.
With the island already experiencing water shortages, the aftermath has added to people's burdens.
Ash blew across properties and soot has settled into homes, swimming pools and resort grounds.
"Floors are covered in soot … it's a lot of cleaning," the mayor said.
The incident has strengthened Aitutaki Island Government's push to introduce new bylaws, including penalties for unsafe rubbish burning.
"We're working on a draft of bylaws to file with the Executive Council by the end of the year," Henry said. "Aitutaki hasn't passed new bylaws since the mid to late 1990s, and pressures on the island have changed."
A bushfire broke out around midday Sunday local time in the Apiripiri area in Aitutaki, causing anxiety among residents and tourists as smoke drifted across homes and nearby resorts. Photo: Cook Islands News / Alan Nanai
Fire crews continue to remind the public that if they must burn rubbish, it should be lit from the downwind side - so the fire burns slowly against the wind, reducing the risk of it escaping into the bush.
Most importantly, people should never walk away from a fire, they advised.
"If you think it's out of control, call. It's far better than waiting for someone else to see it. The boys can come on a motorbike, assess the risk, and help."
The fire comes during one of the driest periods Aitutaki has recorded in recent years.
Comparing rainfall data to 2024, Henry says this year has seen significantly lower totals across many months.
For example, September 2024 recorded 348 and 307 millimetres of rain in two monitored areas. In 2025, those same areas received only 96 and 113 millimetres - less than one-third of last year's rainfall.
"It has been a very low year for rain," Henry said.
October rainfall data is still pending, but early signs show continued dryness.
Looking at rain clouds hovering over Aitutaki yesterday afternoon, Henry was hopefully the island will get a bit of rain to dampen down the ashes.
