Grass fires close vital road link in the South
Out of control grass fires caused serious disruption in the Central South Island yesterday, with motorists stranded after a vital state highway link was closed.
The fires, believed by fire shift commander Andrew Norris to have started about noon from sparks off a vehicle, ripped through grassland near the Lewis Pass Highway north of Hanmer Springs.
The highway — SH7 — was closed between Springs Junction and Culverden as a result, but was due to reopen last night.
SH7 connects to the turn-off to Hanmer Springs and is also part the alternative route north between Christchurch and Picton, with part of
We’re just very pleased and lucky to have got through when we did. Christine Bonthron
SH1 north of Kaikoura still closed due to earthquake damage.
Long lines of backed up cars and frustrated drivers were stuck at either end of the Lewis Pass roadblocks.
Among those affected was a groom hoping the fires were out before his wedding in Hanmer Springs today.
Wedding guest Daena Markow said she and around 20 other guests, as well as the groom, were trapped at the cordon yesterday.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to get through between now and when it’s supposed to be at 3pm [today].”
The fires occurred in steep terrain, making them travel faster and more difficult to attack, Norris said.
Dramatic dash cam footage shot before SH7 closed showed vehicles driving next to thick smoke and flames.
The fires jumped the state highway and it was closed after 1pm.
Crews from a dozen fire appliances and four helicopters were battling the fires early last night, Norris said.
Power was also cut from the biggest lines near the fires, to make it safer for crews and lessen damage to cables.
Meanwhile, one woman inadvertently snapped images of the fires soon after it began.
Christine Bonthron drove through the Lewis Pass and turned off to Hanmer Springs to stop for lunch and take photos down the valley.
It was only when she heard sirens in the township and checked her photos that she saw smoke in the background. The photos were taken at 12.05pm, she said.
“We’re just very pleased and lucky to have got through when we did.”
Among those helping to battle the fires were rural firefighters from Canterbury. However, 17 fire crews yesterday remained on site at the Port Hills fire perimeter, where they were continuing to extinguish hotspots.
Eleven homes were lost when massive fires raged in the Port Hills behind Christchurch last month, and war hero helicopter pilot Steve Askin died when his Squirrel crashed while battling the blaze.