Helicopters carry monsoon buckets in an effort to control the Canterbury beach fire. Video / Supplied
The 130 evacuated residents of the Woodend Beach Holiday Park will be allowed to return home tonight as aerial reconnaissance of the vast Canterbury beach blaze shows fire investigators focusing attention on its origins at a car park area, where fireworks were being set off in high winds last night.
And a fire boss has confirmed one person has been referred to police Youth Aid after an investigation into the blaze.
The fire was sparked about 7.30pm and has since been fanned by blustery, warm northwest winds over a 5km, 200-hectare front. As the blaze ripped through sand dunes and seaside forest, it bore down on Woodend Beach township and forced the evacuation of the camping ground.
More than 100 people took flight in the night as firefighters battled to keep flames at bay. They will be allowed to return to their homes from 5pm through a managed reoccupation, incident controller Dave Berry said.
Helicopters and planes were brought in to help fight the large scrub fire at Woodend Beach. Photo / George Heard
Crews will control and monitor the fire throughout the night and residents should be prepared for future evacuations if the conditions change.
According to Berry, helicopters and aeroplanes continue to drop water on the fire and ground crews are tackling spot fires and hot spots, plus firming up the containment lines on the flanks of the fire.
From first light, four helicopters with monsoon buckets and two aeroplanes have been attacking the fire’s flare-ups and hot spots.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) took media on a guided helicopter tour over the fire this afternoon. It revealed the scale of the fire, which has left hectares smoking, with charred, blackened pine trees, and scrub and tussock burning in a long sliver right down to the Pegasus Bay sand.
Scorched scrub at Woodend Beach. Photo / George Heard
Fire investigators are at Pegasus Beach carpark and toilet block where the fire began. The fire has come within a few metres of the Woodend Beach camping ground, where the earth is blackened right up to its northeast edge.
The fire has jumped north of Woodend Beach but appears to have been contained just a few hundred metres to the south. Bulldozers ploughed a 30m-wide fire break overnight between there and Pines Beach. A wind change to the southeast is expected today, which firefighters are preparing for, and hope that it will send any fire back over already-burned vegetation.
There have been no reports of any properties being damaged.
An aeroplane sprays water over the fire. Photo / George Heard
Canterbury Police rural area commander Inspector Peter Cooper earlier confirmed fireworks caused the blaze. He said there were considerations people needed to take into account when using fireworks such as environmental factors, doing it safely and having a plan if something goes wrong.
“That’s what we encourage people to do when they use fireworks.”
Cooper said he was unable to comment on how many people were setting off the fireworks, but a police spokeswoman said two people were seen acting suspiciously inside the cordon and police were now speaking to them.
”It’s not believed they are linked to how the fire started,” she said. ”However, police are following good lines of inquiry.”
Cooper said after two young people were spoken to, one has been referred to Youth Aid.
“We are pleased to have been able to quickly identify those allegedly involved and we hope this brings some reassurance to the community. It has been established the fire caught following a firework being let off.”
A helicopter carrying a monsoon bucket drops water on the blaze near Pegasus Beach. Photo / George Heard
In a Fenz update this afternoon, Berry said ground crews and aerial waterbombing were making “good progress” in bringing the fire under control.
The fireground had been mapped at 184ha, extending 5.5km along the coast north of the Waimakariri River.
Te Mana Ora Community and Public Health said smoke from the fire presented a “moderate risk to health”.
An aerial photo of the Pegasus Beach fire. Photo / Grace Perry
Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Ramon Pink said exposure to smoke can worsen health conditions such as asthma and heart disease.
”People affected by the smoke should close windows and doors, stay inside if it’s safe to do so, and avoid or reduce outdoor exercise.”
Anyone experiencing health issues from the fire should phone their usual general practice team in the first instance, he said.
”For families returning to homes or holiday accommodation after the fire, it is important to know the smell of smoke in your properties presents no serious threat to health.”
Four helicopters and two planes are dropping water on the fire to knock it down.
Weather is predicted to be similar for this afternoon, which will let fire crews continue their work, said Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s Wayne Hamilton. One member of the public asked why they couldn’t decide on returning now instead of 2pm. FENZ said the fire is still “very active” and they want to make sure it’s a safe area for them to return to. The evacuation centre will remain open into the evening.
Flames stretch from the scene of a fire near Pegasus Beach, Canterbury. Photo / Supplied
Incident controller Colin Russell spoke to media at 7.30am today, along with Waimakariri District mayor Dan Gordon, from the Woodend Fire Station. He said the main focus has been evacuation.
Fire first sparked at 7.30pm Wednesday
All have been “successfully evacuated, all safely” and there are no reports of property damage, he said.
Evacuees are in “good heart” and grateful 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.
