Key points:
- Firefighters are responding to a vegetation fire in the Port Hills near Christchurch
- FENZ was alerted to the fire at 2.15pm on Wednesday
- Up to 14 helicopters and 23 fire trucks are currently battling the blaze
- All residents of Worlseys Road, Early Valley, Worsleys Spur have been urged to evacuate
- An evacuation centre has been set up at Halswell Library and Community Centre
- A second evacuation centre has been set up at the Lincoln Community Centre
- The public has been urged to stay from the area so crews can work
- Police have cordoned off Worsleys Road at the intersection with McVicar Drive. Summit Road is closed between Dyers Pass Road and Gebbies Pass Road.
- FENZ urges people to not fly drones in the area as it will impact helicopters being able to help control the fire
- Thousands of homes lost power as a result of the fire but it has since been restored
- Te Whatu Ora has issued a public health warning for smoke from the fire - Those concerned about their health can call Healthline on 0800 611 116
Firefighters are battling a large vegetation fire on Worsleys Road on Christchurch’s Port Hills.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokesperson said 14 helicopters and 25 trucks and tankers were fighting the Port Hills fire, which was reported about 2.15pm on Wednesday.
About 9.15pm a Fenz spokesman said the fire remained uncontained, and the choppers had been grounded for the night. They would be back at first light.
Incident commander Dave Stackhouse earlier said more than 130 firefighters would remain overnight.
"Our priority is once we ascertain risk to life is to anchor in off Worsleys Rd and Summit Rd.
"At this stage no houses have been damaged."
Stackhouse said five or six houses are in immediate threat and the fire is not contained.
"We are planning tomorrow morning at first light to lay a retardant line across Summit Rd with a fixed-wing aircraft."
Stackhouse said residents should prepare to be away from their homes for at least 24 hours.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger and Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton have agreed that a State of Local Emergency be declared for Christchurch city (which includes Banks Peninsula) and the Selwyn District due to the impacts of the fire. The declaration was made at 6:13pm.
“The declaration means we are better able to coordinate our response across all the various agencies involved, and will mean we can get assistance to where it’s most needed. It also means the local Controller can evacuate people or restrict access to affected areas as required,” said Mauger.
An Emergency Mobile Alert has been issued advising all residents of Worsleys Rd and Worsleys Spur to evacuate immediately.
The Princess Margaret Hospital and several homes in the area have been evacuated.
Said Emergency response volunteer Alex Westfall: "Our primary purpose here is to provide a safe, comfortable place for people to sit down and get away from the incident.
"It's a space people can come if they need to. It's a place people can wait for any news. If we have any information we'll pass it on to them.
"If this does go into the night. We'll be looking at ways we can support people whether it be overnight or longer term."
A second evacuation centre has been established at the Lincoln Community Centre for people closer to Selwyn.
Cordons remain in place and roads surrounding the area are closed while Fire and Emergency crews respond to the blaze.
Motorists are also advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
A Fenz spokesperson said earlier a number of structures were under threat, with firefighters completing structure protection.
"Early Valley is being evacuated. Summit Rd is closed between Dyers Pass Road and Gebbies Pass Road. Residents in that area need to be ready to evacuate at short notice.
"If you are near the fire and feel unsafe, but have not been told to evacuate, you may still self-evacuate, but please stay with family and friends if possible. Alternatively, dial 111 and state your location."
Te Whatu Ora National Public Health Service has also issued a public health warning for smoke from the fire.
"Air around this location is smoky and there is potential that people who are sensitive to smoke - such as those with heart or lung conditions, people who are pregnant, young children and the elderly - may experience symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath or eye, nose and throat irritation," a Fenz spokesperson 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."
Police cordoned off Worsleys Road at the intersection with McVicar Drive and a section of Cashmere Rd. Some residents on Hoon Hay Valley Rd have been evacuated.
Hoon Hay resident Matthew Comins said he could see the "massive fire" from his property.
Aglaia Place, Cracroft, resident Tracey Menzies was at work when she heard about the fire. Her son was home and was evacuated. She said he only had time to grab their dog Stanley.
"The response has been a lot quicker this time," she said
"Fire service said it may go down the valley and told us to turn on the sprinkler."
NZME staffer Matthew Lowe lives in Halswell and has a view of the hills.
He said about an hour ago he could see “a bit of smoke drifting across” but that had “increased substantially” since.
”A couple of sites have ignited and every now and then you can see the flames,” he said.
By 3.40pm he could see the fire moving down the hill, rather than across as it had been earlier.
Worsleys Rd resident Antony Cook said: "It's very reminiscent of seven years ago though last time you could see it coming. This time there was no warning."
Cook was prepared to evacuate with wife Tracey plus their two dogs and two cats.
Cracroft resident Olga Whyte first noticed the fire at about 2.15pm and made a call to FENZ.
Power outages due to the fire affected several thousand homes in Aranui, Avondale, Avonside, Bromley, Burwood, City, Ferrymead, Kirwee, Linwood, Opawa, Phillipstown, Richmond, Rolleston, South New Brighton, Southshore, St Albans, Travis, Wainoni, Waltham, Westhaven, and Woolston. Most homes had power restored by about 5pm.
An Orion spokesperson said there was a loss of electricity supply to the Bromley Substation which serves a large area of the eastern side of the city.
"This caused a widespread outage. We are undertaking switching on the network and we have progressively restored customers."
Transpower says the fire, burning under its power lines, caused the circuits to trip at the Bromley substation.
It says that led to a loss of about 38 megawatts at the substation, temporarily knocking out power to about 55,000 properties.
Power has since been restored because the local lines company, Orion, is backfeeding power from the Islington substation.
Wind gusts up to 33km/h are hindering firefighters as are high temperatures of over 24 deg C.
National MP for Banks Peninsula Vanessa Weenink says the fire will be bringing back horrible memories of the deadly 2017 blaze.
Speaking during a general debate this afternoon, Weenink said she was thinking of the emergency responders battling the fire.
"I know that for many people in my electorate this fire will be bringing back horrible memories of the 2017 fire which burned for over 66 days and took the life of a firefighter, Steve Askin. I'd like to acknowledge his family."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said earlier he was "thinking of those in the Port Hills who are currently facing a large fire putting homes and lives at risk.
"Stay safe and please follow the advice of authorities who are right now on deck providing help on the ground and fighting the blaze."
In February 2017 wildfires broke out in the Port Hills, burning through a total of 1600ha. The blaze destroyed nine homes and damaged another five. It took 66 days before the fires were fully extinguished.
One life was lost - helicopter pilot Steve Askin, a war hero wounded in a five-hour shootout in 2011 after the Taliban stormed the InterContinental Hotel in Kabul.
