The blaze at Pegasus Beach continued to burn overnight and has covered an estimated 200ha. Incident Controller Colin Russell said three helicopters and fresh crews have been mustering at first light.
- 130 residents evacuated as blaze spreads over 5km
- Warning not to light fireworks in windy Canterbury weather
Russell spoke to media at 7.30am on Thursday, along with Waimakariri District mayor Dan Gordon, from the Woodend Fire Station. he said the main focus has been evacuation.
All have been “successfully evacuated, all safely” and there are no reports of property damage, he said.
Evacuees are in “good hearts” and thankful to Fire and Emergency, said Gordon
Russell said it was too early to say what sparked the massive blaze but investigations were under way. Questions were asked whether the fire could be linked to ongoing Guy Fawkes celebrations, but Russell wouldn’t be drawn into speculating.
His preference, he said, would be for the public to refrain from setting off their own fireworks but simply attend safely managed public events.
The fire first sparked around 7.30pm on Wednesday night. Roughly 50 firefighters and 12 fire trucks have been on the scene since, in an attempt to control the blaze.
The fire has spread over 5km, Russell said.
130 people have been evacuated from their homes. Gordon said around 50 evacuees sheltered at the community centre overnight but were in good spirits.
Heavy machinery including two huge bulldozers managed to plough a 30m-wide fire break last night to try to contain the blaze.
While the wind is light now, forecasted gusts have firefighters on the ground concerned. The aerial attack will focus on hot-spots and containing the worst areas.
Pockets of fire could be seen in various areas throughout the sand dunes on Thursday morning, along with a forestry block - which has recently been cleared in parts.
Smoke is billowing and has drifted over the small Woodend Beach community, where residents had a nervy, sleepless night.
“We are so lucky nobody has lost their home,” one told the Herald. They went to a friend’s place to shelter through the night.
”It was so close.”
Another said the beach community this morning was thick with smoke.”
“I hope it doesn’t pick up today… the skies are still glowing.”
Helicopters with monsoon buckets have started to arrive on the scene to help fight the fire from the skies.
Residents and racehorses evacuated
Heavy machinery had been used on Wednesday night to create a firebreak on Pipeline Rd, which runs off Ferry Rd and the Pines Beach end.
“To the best of our knowledge we have not lost any homes or property but it’s hard to get a complete picture during the night. We will be making an aerial reconnaissance at first light and we will get a better idea of the extent of the fire then,” Russell said.
A second community meeting will be held for evacuees and residents in the vicinity of the fire at 10am in the Woodend Community Centre, which has also been set up as a welfare hub by Civil Defence.
Last night, the Waimakariri Civil Defence and police assisted FENZ to evacuate a number of residents to the Woodend Community Centre, and racehorses were also evacuated.
New Zealand Response Teams team leader Jonathan Williams said most of the people were from the holiday camp, but many people were also self-evacuating.
Last night, the Waimakariri Civil Defence and police assisted FENZ to evacuate a number of residents to the Woodend Community Centre, and racehorses were also evacuated.
New Zealand Response Teams team leader Jonathan Williams said most of the people were from the holiday camp, but many people were also self-evacuating.
