New risks on burnt hillsides
Residents in the Christchurch Port Hills could be facing fresh concern for their properties, with experts assessing the risk of landslips and boulder falls.
Assessments were being carried out yesterday on fire damaged slopes where the vegetation had been burnt off to gauge the potential threat of soil and rock damage to homes below.
Although these areas appeared ‘‘sound’’, there was concern this could change with heavy rain.
The council said getting this information was a factor in assessing the risk before people would be allowed to go back home.
Civil Defence Controller John Mackie said infra-red imaging had also been carried out and the results would be used to update fire-risk models.
Firefighters battling the fire could have died had they not been called back to their station at a crucial point last week, the fire incident controller says.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union called for an independent inquiry after claims a group of its members was taken away from a section of the fire by rural fire operators, only to be called back 90 minutes later. But incident controller Richard McNamara said he had ‘‘absolute faith’’ in the three ‘‘very experienced’’ fire commanders at the fire-front who made that call and backed them ‘‘100 per cent’’.
‘‘They made that call on behalf of their crew’s safety. This is the number one priority.’’
McNamara said the fire was ‘‘the most complex fire in New Zealand history’’.
‘‘I’m not going to throw a life away for the sake of a house,’’ he said. ‘‘When you’ve got that amount of heat coming up the hill and big boulders rolling down the hill, what do you think is the right call in that situation.’’
Meanwhile, heavy fog yesterday morning grounded helicopters still battling the fires, which the lead pilot said were ‘‘the most dangerous’’ he had worked on in 45 years. Alan Beck said about four helicopters were stuck at Christchurch Airport while about eight more were waiting at Halswell Quarry Park for the fog to lift.
A reduced aerial attack would operate on Monday afternoon to allow pilots and air support crew to attend the funeral of Steve Askin, who died after his helicopter crashed while fighting the fires on February 14.
The blaze, which started on February 13, had ripped through 2075 hectares as of Sunday evening. About 450 houses were evacuated and at least 11 homes destroyed.
‘‘We’re fogged in up on the hill. We really need the wind to blow the fog away so we can back into it,’’ Beck said.
‘‘It’s very, very difficult conditions for all the pilots and the ground crews today.’’
MetService forecaster Kyle Lee said the fog was expected to clear enough for helicopters to fly by midday.
Beck said the fire remained ‘‘well under control’’ and temperatures remained low.
Once they could fly, helicopters would be on a ‘‘search and destroy mission’’.
McNamara said the blaze was contained to a 30-kilometre perimeter, but still had ‘‘a lot of heat’’ and would not be fully extinguished for a few more days.
Civil Defence say 154 properties remain behind cordons. Frequent risk assessments were being carried out and cordons would be lifted accordingly. - Fairfax NZ