Rockfalls add to hillside fire hazards
A large fire near Arthur’s Pass was last night expected to blaze through the night.
Firefighters used five helicopters to battle the flames that temporarily closed State Highway 73.
Department of Conservation deputy principal rural fire officer Bruce Janes said they used a ‘‘steady steady’’ approach to fight the large wildfire at Mt Horrible, near Cass in Canterbury.
Aerial crews operated until nightfall yesterday, and were due to start again at 7am today.
At 2pm yesterday, the fire was under control but not fully contained and they could not guarantee it would not spread further, Janes said.
A crew was to monitor the area overnight and a team of 20-25 firefighters are expected to move in from the edges this morning.
Janes said unstable hillsides and rockfall risk made firefighting from the ground difficult.
’’Rocks are falling onto the highway and endangering firefighters.’’
One firefighter had suffered an eye injury from the dust in the air.
He said the fire was in an ‘‘very awkward position, but not crazy big’’. The fire was about 1 square kilometre in size, burning in a steep area of shrub south of Arthur’s Pass, Janes said.
Firefighters were alerted shortly after 2am yesterday. There was no indication how the fire started, he said.
‘‘It is a weird time for a fire to start.’’
Initially it was thought the fire was caused by campers, but there had been no signs of cigarettes or butts, no campfire and no cars nearby. Janes said they hoped the road would not need to be closed again. – Fairfax NZ