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The Port Hills fire has burned across 630 hectares and spread inside the Christchurch Adventure Park’s boundaries overnight.
Eighty households were evacuated, the city’s mayor said, but Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said no structures had been lost “thanks to the great efforts of … View moreThe Port Hills fire has burned across 630 hectares and spread inside the Christchurch Adventure Park’s boundaries overnight.
Eighty households were evacuated, the city’s mayor said, but Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said no structures had been lost “thanks to the great efforts of our crews”.
The main fire was around Summit Rd. Firefighters had successfully put a fire break in around Worsleys Spur to Dyers Pass Rd, Mosby said.
Fenz was aware northwesterly winds were forecast to build from about lunchtime, so the focus on Thursday was to “hit the fire hard with the resources we have already“.
The fire broke out about 2.15pm on Wednesday - the anniversary of the devastating 2017 fire - and a local state of emergency remains in place.
Fenz said 80 firefighters were on the ground on Thursday, while in the air were 15 helicopters with monsoon buckets and two fixed wing aircraft focused on retardant drops.
A community meeting would be held for affected residents at Te Hāpua Halswell Centre at 11am.
Also on Thursday morning, two helicopters had been diverted to a vegetation fire burning through scrub in the View Hill area of North Canterbury, to would help six crews “who are mopping up, focusing on areas of unsafe terrain”, Fenz said.
A grass fire also threatened structures near Rolleston in Selwyn just before 9am on Thursday. Four Fenz trucks and one tanker responded and it was contained within an hour.
An evacuation centre had been set up at Halswell Library and Community Centre, and a second at the Lincoln community centre for people closer to Selwyn.
A community meeting would be held for affected residents at Te Hāpua Halswell Centre at 11am.
Late Wednesday, Fenz asked for help from the public as an investigation into the cause of the fire began.
Anyone with photographs or videos of the Port Hills taken between 1.45pm and 2.45pm (30 minutes before the fire was reported to 30 minutes after) Wednesday were asked to email them to PortHills2024Photos@fireandemergency.nz with their name and contact details, when the photo or footage was taken and where the photographer was.
Thinking of everyone on the Port Hills today.
What should you pack if you are asked to evacuate?
Important documents...insurance papers. Passports, photo ID
Prescription medicine. Baby supplies.
Clothes. Snack food. Phone and device chargers.
Small things that are irreplaceable.
The Pet Life.
It’s the life you share with your pet, and the life they share with you. We believe the pet life’s a life worth protecting.
Which is why we are dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier and happier lives every day.
We’re proudly born and bred in New Zealand, and … View moreThe Pet Life.
It’s the life you share with your pet, and the life they share with you. We believe the pet life’s a life worth protecting.
Which is why we are dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier and happier lives every day.
We’re proudly born and bred in New Zealand, and are equally proud to partner with the NZ Veterinary Association and Pet Refuge. Just two ways we’re there to support the Pet Life community.
Protect the Pet Life.
People in Christchurch’s Port Hills have been evacuated from their homes following a huge fire near the Christchurch Adventure Park on the anniversary of the devastating 2017 fires that killed a pilot and destroyed multiple homes.
Dozens of firefighters and multiple helicopters are battling … View morePeople in Christchurch’s Port Hills have been evacuated from their homes following a huge fire near the Christchurch Adventure Park on the anniversary of the devastating 2017 fires that killed a pilot and destroyed multiple homes.
Dozens of firefighters and multiple helicopters are battling the major blaze, which has engulfed a large part of the hills in the south of the city.
The fire caused power to be temporarily lost to 40,000 homes in the east of the city, power company Orion said, and several traffic lights to be out.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said at 4pm that 10 people had been evacuated with the help of police, and more evacuations were expected.
Anyone near the fire who felt unsafe may self-evacuate, but should stay with family and friends if possible, Fenz said.
Several of structures were under threat, with firefighters “completing structure protection”.
Health authorities have also issued a public health warning about the smoke.
A huge plume of white is billowing across the southern part of the city from the blaze, which broke out at about 2.15pm at the top of Worsleys Road in the Port Hills.
As of 3.50pm, 10 helicopters and 15 trucks and tankers were fighting the fire.
The Christchurch Adventure Park has been evacuated, which the company behind it said was standard procedure when a fire is nearby.
Adventure Park spokesperson Juliet Calder said the fire started outside the park.
As soon as the park was alerted to the fire at 2.15pm, it began following instructions from Fenz, including evacuating the park. “It’s not in our park itself,” she said.
An emergency notification from Fenz has been sent to residents along the Port Hills as the large fire rages near Westmorland.
Just before 4pm, residents in the neighbouring suburb of Cashmere Hills, 1.5km away, were sent an emergency alert stating “a wildfire is burning ... evacuate the area immediately”.
The warning urged residents of Worsleys Rd and Worselys Spur to evacuate now because of the vegetation fire.
An evacuation centre has been set up at Halswell Library and Community Centre.
The billowing dark smoke could be seen high in the sky above the hills, the orange glow of flames visible from the central city.
“A fire has been reported in the area of Worsley Rd on the Port Hills and we have appliances responding,” the Fenz spokesperson said.
“Please stay away from this area to allow our crews to work on containing this fire.
It is as yet unclear how the fire started. The fire risk in the area is considered “very high”, according to Niwa and Fenz.
Helicopters could be seen scooping up water using monsoon buckets and flying above the smoke.
Local Cashmere resident Joachim Murdie said he saw 10 fire trucks drive past his house towards the fire “coming from each direction”.
He joined a large group of cars lined up on Worlseys Rd of residents and curious people watching the large smoke fill the sky.
Murdie cycles regularly at the Adventure Park and said the tracks are “incredibly dry” at the moment.
“It’s just straw up there really … anything like a cigarette put could set it on fire.”
One Worsleys Rd resident, who didn’t want to be named, said the fire appeared to be burning further up the hill from her property, past the dead end at the end of the street.
“We’re packing up just in case we have to be evacuated.”
There were three or four helicopters circling the area, she said, and numerous audible sirens. For now, smoke was blowing away from her property.
The resident’s house was spared in the Port Hills fires of 2017, she said, although some neighbours weren’t so lucky.
“It’s just life,” she said. “You just do it.”
Brianna Moody watched the fire burn for close to an hour. She said “it was growing at a massive rate” and getting scarily close to residents’ houses.
Port Hills resident Tracey Menzies sat patiently at a police cordon, worrying about her house on the hill from which her family had evacuated.
Her son was home when the fire broke out, so he grabbed the dog and fled.
The blaze is a reminder of the Port Hills fire their family experienced seven years ago, but Menzies said she had faith in fire crews.
“The fire brigade are onto it, it’s got so much bigger so much quicker than the last one, but they know what they’re doing,” she said.
“When we arrived it was a quarter of the size of what it is now, it’s moving so quickly and the black and white clouds are just crazy,” she said.
Te Whatu Ora National Public Health Service has issued a public health warning.
“Those who are sensitive to smoke - such as those with heart or lung conditions, pregnant people, young children and the elderly - may experience symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath or eye, nose and throat irritation,” it said.
People affected by the smoke should close windows and doors and reduce outdoor exercise. Those concerned about their health can call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
It was 24C in Christchurch when the blaze broke out, with wind gusts of up to 33kph. Temperatures were forecast to rise to 29C later on Wednesday.
Canterbury District, which includes areas north of the Rakaia River, is under total fire ban until further notice.
No open-air fires are allowed and all fire permits are suspended since a prohibited fire season came into place.
Dry weather is expected to continue for the next two months.
It is seven years since a major fire burned through 1600 hectares of land in 2017, claiming nine homes and damaging five others.
War hero and celebrated pilot Steve Askin, 38, died while fighting the blazes. The Eurocopter AS350-BA helicopter he was flying crashed near Sugarloaf on February 14.
It took 66 days before the fire was declared fully extinguished.
The fires were the first large-scale blazes on the edge of a major urban area in New Zealand.
The two fires started February 13, 2017 and then merged, producing as much energy as four atom bombs.
Not a very encouraging pattern as the level seems to have settled at nearly twice what it was three months ago.
It is pleasing to see that fewer people are dying, which might be due to either the most vulnerable having succumbed, or the treatment having improved, probably both.
New cases - … View moreNot a very encouraging pattern as the level seems to have settled at nearly twice what it was three months ago.
It is pleasing to see that fewer people are dying, which might be due to either the most vulnerable having succumbed, or the treatment having improved, probably both.
New cases - Deaths
5878 - 15
5555 - 20 - last week
5757 - 20
7016 - 22
8040 - ?? Xmas
7417 - 27
7880 - 27
6656 - 20
6814 - 22
7881 - 20
5947 - 36
3934 - 44
Cashmere Presbyterian Church are running an Autumn Garden Tour on Saturday 2nd March.
Enjoy and be inspired by a self-guided tour around a selection of gardens in an area ranging from Cashmere to Tai Tapu.
From small-but-large-in-content gardens, to one with four hectares of native planting, … View moreCashmere Presbyterian Church are running an Autumn Garden Tour on Saturday 2nd March.
Enjoy and be inspired by a self-guided tour around a selection of gardens in an area ranging from Cashmere to Tai Tapu.
From small-but-large-in-content gardens, to one with four hectares of native planting, there is something to interest everyone. Tours of Moffatts Flower Company, and a talk about the regeneration at Ernle Clark Reserve will also be available.
Gardens will be open to visit between 11.00am and 4.00pm, and Cream Teas will be available to purchase at the Church from 10.15am to 3pm.
Tickets are $50 each, and can be booked at events.humanitix.com... (note, there is no credit card surcharge to book through this method)
Monthly AEA Web Events
The AEA Web Event is a monthly online meeting where AEA members from all over the world come together to share their experience, strength and hope. Three members speak for 10 minutes each, followed by member sharing.
The Event is always held on the 3rd Sunday of the … View moreMonthly AEA Web Events
The AEA Web Event is a monthly online meeting where AEA members from all over the world come together to share their experience, strength and hope. Three members speak for 10 minutes each, followed by member sharing.
The Event is always held on the 3rd Sunday of the month which is this Sunday 18 February.
ALL NEWCOMERS WELCOME.
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PLUS, use Broadband Compare to compare NZ's best broadband deals & … View moreExperiencing broadband troubles? Our recent neighbourly poll reveals the top two issues: unstable connections and pricey bills!
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Classical crossover singer Rebecca Nelson told a captivated Cambridge audience how the town holds a special place in her heart for several reasons.
Rebecca’s performance was one of three shows lined up to entertain residents and soon-to-be residents of Ryman Healthcare’s Patrick Hogan … View moreClassical crossover singer Rebecca Nelson told a captivated Cambridge audience how the town holds a special place in her heart for several reasons.
Rebecca’s performance was one of three shows lined up to entertain residents and soon-to-be residents of Ryman Healthcare’s Patrick Hogan Village in Cambridge, Hilda Ross Village down the road in Hamilton and James Wattie Village in Havelock North.
Describing her connection to Ryman, she says: “It feels like coming home and performing for friends and family.”
Click read for the full story.
This Valentine’s Day, why not snuggle up with your loved one for a movie night in?
We've curated the ultimate list of the latest romantic flicks and binge-worthy shows to make your evening extra special.
Plus, don't forget to compare broadband options on Broadband Compare for the… View moreThis Valentine’s Day, why not snuggle up with your loved one for a movie night in?
We've curated the ultimate list of the latest romantic flicks and binge-worthy shows to make your evening extra special.
Plus, don't forget to compare broadband options on Broadband Compare for the best streaming deals!
It's back for a fifth year! Recognise the best local businesses in your neighbourhood by nominating them in the 2024 Prospa Local Business Hero Awards.
Whether it's a bakery team who occasionally sneak you an extra sweet treat, a supermarket employee that's helped carry your bags… View moreIt's back for a fifth year! Recognise the best local businesses in your neighbourhood by nominating them in the 2024 Prospa Local Business Hero Awards.
Whether it's a bakery team who occasionally sneak you an extra sweet treat, a supermarket employee that's helped carry your bags to the car or a bookshop that goes out of its way to find the best read just for you. Prospa Local Business Hero helps you show some love to the small businesses with the biggest hearts.
Plus your nomination could help a small business win over $10,000 worth of prizes!
Be a local hero yourself; give your favourite local business owner the recognition they deserve by nominating them in the 2024 Prospa Local Business Hero awards.
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Happy Chinese Lunar New Year from the team at NZ Compare!
May your year be as powerful and fortunate as the mighty dragon!
Don't forget to enter our Year of the Dragon contest to WIN 1 of 3 X $50 gift cards.
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