Blaze in Port Hills is down but not out for fire crews
Cooler weather is helping fatigued firefighters as wind whips Canterbury
As fire operations on Christchurch’s Port Hills continued into day six yesterday, Fire and Emergency (Fenz) said the blaze was contained but not out.
Fenz incident controller Steve Kennedy said crews were focusing on about 40 hotspots considered at risk.
“Conditions have changed around Port Hills since there is some cool weather today,” Kennedy said yesterday. “[Fenz] managed to fly helicopters around and the drones have identified new 17 hotspots overnight,” he said.
“Fortunately with it being a bit cooler, it’s probably a bit easier on our crews up there, so it’s not so hot.”
He said Fenz was “aware of the fatigue factor with our crews and making sure that they’re getting plenty of rest and hydration”.
Kennedy said about 120 people were still working on the fire.
“The vast majority of them are firefighters on the ground, which would be 100-plus. We’ve still got four aircraft available for us down here as well.”
The fire operations around the Port Hills are expected to run until at least Thursday.
Today was flagged as a high firedanger day across Canterbury because of the hot, windy conditions.
MetService meteorologist Gerrard Bellam said on Sunday night that Canterbury High Country would be under a wind warning until 3pm.
“The severe northwest gale in these areas could gust up to 130km/h in exposed places, but it will be a short and sharp spell of wind.”
Kennedy said Fenz “have the resources to respond to multiple incidents, but we’re asking everyone to do their part to prevent any more fires starting”.
Christchurch City Council controller Brent Smith said: “We’re still under a state of emergency and we will do so until we get to the point where it doesn’t require the multiagency effort.” Meanwhile, 50 firefighters were yesterday working to get on top of a scrub fire in North Canterbury.
Emergency services were called just after 8pm on Sunday to the large “fast-moving” blaze burning through gorse and scrub near Waikari Valley Rd in the Hurunui District.
Five helicopters responded to the fire but three with monsoon buckets were grounded due to the wind. The other two, with specialised equipment, are continuing to operate.
“The fire is currently uncontrolled and has largely burned out, but remains a risk due to high winds,” a Fenz spokesperson earlier said.
There had been no reported livestock losses, nor any structures lost or damaged.