A large scrub fire at Tiwai Point has grown to 1200ha, with an 18km perimeter, due to higher temperatures and wind speed this afternoon.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said fire crews have been working hard to contain the blaze, across the harbour from Bluff, today.
Eight trucks were in attendance and 10 helicopters in support.
They continued until 6pm tonight, at which point two crews would monitor the fire overnight.
All crews will return at 7am tomorrow to continue battling the fire.
Incident Controller Hamish Angus said the fire was not an immediate threat to people, homes, the smelter, or the Tiwai Bridge.
"The Tiwai Bridge is closed to all traffic except our crews and the smelter staff, and we’re asking people to keep away from Tiwai Road so we can continue to work safely," he said.
"We are working closely with mana whenua and the Department of Conservation, to ensure culturally and ecologically sensitive areas still threatened by the fire are prioritised for protection."
The blaze started about midnight and burned through 126ha overnight.
In an update shortly after 9.30am Fenz said the blaze had spread to cover 250ha, with an 8km perimeter.
At that stage, Fenz said there were five choppers, nine appliances and about 40 firefighters tackling the blaze.
Invercargill City councillor Alex Crackett said smoke from the fire was visible across the city and from as far away as Riverton.
"We've got some sites of significance out there near Bluff, some urupa and some gorgeous and significant wetlands out there so I am really hoping it can be contained and controlled quite soon."
A spokesman from the smelter said there was no immediate impact or danger to the site or staff, and the plant remained in operation.
"We continue to monitor the situation and are in contact with emergency services and have offered any assistance they require.''
Awarua Rūnaka Manager Gail Thompson was deeply saddened at the damage caused in such a short time.
"This peninsula is a precious taonga, with a history going back a long way, which is important to Ngai Tahu," she said.
She was happy to see the newly-established Mana Whenua emergency facilitator for Murihiku, Angie Hopkinson, at the site to support Fenz and the Department of Conservation (DOC) with the response.
DOC’s operation manager for Murihiku, John McCarroll, said Awarua Peninsula has considerable environmental value, and today’s fire is a huge blow.
"Awarua has a significant number of biodiversity values and is used by a lot of wading birds for flocking and feeding, including the endangered Southern New Zealand Dotterel/Pukunui," he said.
"As well as the loss of wildlife, we’ve also lost assets such as predator-trapping infrastructure.
"We will assess the losses once the fire is under control and we can return there safely. We may never know the full impact on biodiversity, but it is likely significant."
The nearby Awarua wetland is also a Department of Conservation area of environmental significance, which was devastated in April 2022 when wildfire burnt through 1330ha.
- RNZ/ODT Online
