Lake Pukaki fire: Houses evacuated as blaze burns in Canterbury high country

The NZ Transport Agency's State Highway cameras show firefighters batting a blaze near Lake Pukaki on Monday evening. Photo / NZ Transport Agency

Two houses have been evacuated due to a fire in the Canterbury high country, and those displaced residents will have to stay away from their homes overnight.

A further two houses threatened by the 50-hectare blaze at Lake Pukaki were already vacant and did not need to be evacuated, a spokeswoman for Fire and Emergency New Zealand said.

Fire crews from Twizel, Lake Tekapo and Ōmarama responded to the blaze after being called out about 2.30pm.

Firefighters have since brought the fire under control, but had not managed to contain it, the spokeswoman said.

Two helicopters which fought the fire today have been grounded, and one is planned to return at first light tomorrow.

Some crews will remain on the ground overnight.

Crews initially arrived to find “multiple slash piles and scrub” on fire, the spokeswoman said.

Firefighters are battling a blaze covering 50ha near Lake Pukaki, a spokeswoman for Fire and Emergency New Zealand said. Photo / NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Emergency services have closed State Highway 80, the route to Mt Cook, at the intersection with SH8 and the New Zealand Transport Agency asked motorists to avoid driving along SH80 at this time.

Police said they were helping Fenz, saying they were called about 3.30pm.

Police were assisting with traffic control on SH8 and SH80. Police were also evacuating affected residents.