Firefighters to spend Christmas at blaze site

A small group of firefighters will spend Christmas Day keeping an eye on a South Canterbury fire near Waimate, which is contained but could flare up.

Six helicopters and about 40 firefighters, including crews from Southland and Northland, have today been working to control the fire, which ignited on Tuesday afternoon and spread into forest.

The fire has damaged about 178 hectares of gorse and native vegetation. Also at risk are 120ha of 29-year-old forest.

Helicopters and ground crews were "dampening down" the area and had contained the fire, incident controller Bryan Jensen said.

"We're hopeful now that we'll contain it and put the lid on it, We are looking to work a short day tomorrow...there will be one or two crews that will just monitor the site (on Christmas Day)," he said.

It would take more than a week to extinguish the fire.

"We'll need some good showers of rain to come through and dampen the whole site down so it will be some time into the New Year before it's declared out," he said.

There was a danger northwesterly winds, in such dry conditions, could fan the fire back into life, he said.

Firefighters were working to protect the forests near Waimate including Studholme Bush - a scenic reserve of native forest, 2km inland from Waimate.

South Canterbury rural fire principal officer Rob Hands said today the fire was contained within constructed firelines and grazed paddocks.

A thermal camera would assess the area tomorrow morning, he said.

Police closed State Highway 82 between Hodges Road and Parkers Bush Road, in Waimate, due to the blaze.

High winds and heat over recent days have set off a spate of fires from Invercargill to North Canterbury.

In North Canterbury a large scrub and pine fire was still burning near Amberley at Leithfield Beach, 40km northeast of Christchurch. Yesterday it forced the evacuation of two households.

About 20 rural firefighters battled the blaze overnight, with at least 10 more joining the crew today, Christchurch Fire Service area commander Dan Coward told NZPA today.

The fire covered 25ha, including 20-year-old pine trees, he said.

No injuries have been reported in any fire.

Meanwhile, the Department of Conservation today warned people about the "extreme fire risk" at this time of the year.

People who breached fire bans could face penalties of up to six months imprisonment or a fine of up to $2000.

They would also have to cover the costs of putting out the fire, and any for property damaged or destroyed.

- NZPA

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