Key points
- Christchurch City (which includes Banks Peninsula) and Selwyn District are in a state of local emergency as fire crews continue to battle a large fire on the Port Hills.
- The fire, which is not yet contained, was reported at 2.15pm on Wednesday as a vegetation fire on Worsleys Rd near Cracroft.
- The main blaze is centred around Christchurch's Summit Rd. 80 homes have been evacuated from Early Valley, Worsley Spur, Hoon Hay Valley and Kennedys Bush.
- 30 homes have been evacuated in Selwyn District.
- Neighbouring Adventure Park says the fire is within its boundary.
- From 6am today, 23 appliances will be back on the ground, supported by 13 helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft.
- An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun, and Fire and Emergency has asked the public to get in contact with any photos or videos of the Port Hills taken between 1.45pm and 2.45pm on Wednesday.
Police are urging “disaster tourists” to stay away from the massive fire burning uncontrolled on Christchurch’s Port Hills.
Fire crews resumed their battle this morning with 23 appliances, supported by 13 helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft, tackling it from the ground and air.
The blaze was first reported 2.15pm yesterday on Worsleys Rd, Cracroft, in the south of the city, and Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) said some vegetation had caught alight.
Onlookers eager to see the fire, however, disrupted the response, Fenz said.
The main blaze is centred around Christchurch's Summit Rd with 80 properties evacuated from Early Valley, Worsley Spur, Hoon Hay Valley and Kennedys Bush. Thirty homes have been evacuated in Selwyn district.
Neighbouring Adventure Park said this morning the fire was within its boundary.
Fire and Emergency spokesman Brad Mosby said there had been no significant outbreaks overnight and the fire has burnt through 630ha with a 12km perimeter. No properties have been lost.
“Our approach today will be to hit the fire hard."
The blaze happened a day after the seven-year anniversary of another fire on the Port Hills, which saw swathes of the same area torched in 2017.
At a media conference this morning, police manager Ash Tabb said disaster tourists were becoming an issue for fire crews, as they keep blocking roads and stopping equipment from coming in.
People wanting to take a look at the fire were also stopping residents from coming in and out.
“We just need people out of the way.”
These “tourists” are affecting not only EMS staff accessing the fire site but also residents getting in and out at what was already a very stressful time.
Tabb said the behaviour’s driven by people “wanting to get shots on their social media accounts”.
Civil Defence Minister Mark Mitchell told people to stay away and stop interfering: "Allow Fenz and police to do their job."
Fenz has repeated a request for photos and footage of the Port Hills taken on Wednesday between 1.45pm and 2.45pm - that’s half an hour either side of when the fire started.
Email imagery to: porthills2024photos@fireandemergency.nz with your name, contact details, exact time the image was taken and where you were.
HOMES EVACUATED
More than 100 firefighters and a dozen helicopters battled the blaze yesterday. Dozens of properties were evacuated, including a nearby hospital, as plumes of thick, black smoke spewed out - and Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger and Selwyn District Council mayor Sam Broughton agreed to announce the local state of emergency at 6.13pm.
Residents evacuated yesterday were not able to return home last night, and cordons remained in place.
Broughton this morning thanked frontline staff for their work and acknowledged the emotional toll the fire had on people who might be affected. He urged those struggling to seek help.
""The fire is not a respecter of boundaries. We are looking forward to this being brought under control."
It was too early to say what started the fire but investigation was under way to ascertain "whether there is any human involvement".
The next briefing for evacuated residents is at the Halswell Community Centre at 11am. A community hub will also be opened at the bottom of Worsley Rd from 8am.
Fenz, Civil Defence and police will be there and residents can go there to get information or to flag any immediate needs.
HOT, WINDY DAY FORECAST
Helicopters were back in the air from about 6.30am, supporting the 23 fresh firefighting crews and heavy machinery. Protecting structures and working on containment lines will be the main priorities for crews today.
But it'll be a hot, windy day in Christchurch making firefighting efforts difficult.
MetService says temperatures can be expected to hit the late 20s, including Christchurch forecast to reach 28degC, with a big northwesterly and gusts of around 50 km/h expected from late morning through to early evening. Showers are expected in the evening.
