Fire crews have contained a large scrub fire on the Waimakariri River near the Canterbury village of Swannanoa, northwest of Christchurch.
Four helicopters and multiple fire appliances responded to the vegetation fire reported about 2.50pm in the bed of the Waimakariri River at Diversion Rd.
Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Des Irving said the fire is deep-seated in scrub and forestry and firefighters are facing challenging conditions.
A fire investigation has begun.
“Firefighting will continue through the night and into tomorrow,” Irving said.
“The full extent of the fireground is still being mapped but it’s estimated to be burning an area roughly 12 hectares.”
Assistant Commander Brian Keown said tankers and fire trucks responded from local brigades including Kaiapoi, Swannanoa, West Melton, Pine Beach and Spencerville.
One witness who had been swimming in the Waimakariri River with his dog told the Herald firefighters cordoned off and evacuated the area.
“Helicopters were going for it and a fire 4x4 just came onto the riverbed as I was leaving due to strong wind”
There are Facebook comments on community pages as far away as Linwood, Parklands and Sumner, about the smell of smoke from the haze wafting right across the city.
The Canterbury region has baked under hot conditions as temperatures peaked at 32C this afternoon.
A Fenz spokesperson also said the large vegetation fires at Loburn and Amberely are tonight contained and controlled.
Incident Controller Colin Russell said fire crews have made good progress and will remain overnight to monitor and extinguish hotspots.
“Overnight crews will also carry out detailed thermal imaging of structures destroyed or damaged by the fires.”
Two houses, a church and several sheds and structures including vehicles and machinery were destroyed or damaged in the Loburn fire which started around 3pm yesterday.
“Fresh crews will be back in the morning,” Russell said.
Earlier today the Waimakariri District Council Welfare Team and Fire and Emergency staff met with impacted residents and together staffed a Fire and Emergency community hub caravan on Loburn Whiterocks Rd to answer resident’s questions and look after their welfare.
Power was reinstated around 1pm today and all residents who were able to have returned to their homes.
Cordons were lifted and roads were opened around 4.30pm but speed restrictions are in place on Loburn Whiterock Rd between Hodgsons Rd and Te Whare Orchard as firefighters are still working in the area.
Fenz also confirmed the Amberley fire is contained and under control and firefighters are continuing to uncover and put out deep-seated hotspots, with the help of heavy machinery.
Des Irving said crews will remain on the fireground overnight and all homeowners evacuated from the Amberley fire are now back home.
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