KEY POINTS:
Firefighters are attacking a major blaze on Christchurch's Port Hills from the air.
Three helicopters were put to work at first light on the fire which has spread into a pine plantation. A fourth helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft may be called in later today to help fight the blaze. The fixed wing aircraft would spread fire retardant.
The fire began in the early hours of this morning and its cause was not known, said Paul Davey, chief executive of Selwyn District Council.
There was a burnt out car on the edge of the road but it was not known if it was there before the fire started.
Roads are closed near the fire. There are not many houses in the area, which is covered by gorse and trees.
The fire is burning on two flanks on the city-side of the Summit Road. The left front on the Gebbes Pass was reasonably contained and another flank on the Cashmere side was creeping forward slowly into pine plantations.
The fire front is about 1.5km long and the total fire area is as much a 10ha.
Mr Davey said it was decided to fight the fire from the air until it was safe enough to send ground crews in. One issue was that the fire had spread in fingers through the plantation.
Conditions were very good for fighting the fire as there was little wind today.
"We're hitting it with three helicopters with monsoon buckets," said Mr Davey.
Firefighters were looking at putting in a fire break halfway down the plantation.
- NZPA
