North Canterbury wildfire ‘not controlled or contained’, fire services warn

Fire and Emergency NZ services were alerted to the blaze around 8pm on Thursday, August 30. Photo / Fenz

Firefighters are staying on the scene of a massive out-of-control wildfire in North Canterbury overnight, with incident management teams strategising a plan of attack for the morning.

Thirty firefighters have been battling the blaze in Waipara this evening. The fire covers about 40 hectares and is “not contained and not controlled”. The fire remains in a wooded area and is burning through unmilled timber.

Five helicopters were battling the blaze, which has burned since Thursday night, through large swathes of pine forest.

The fire had previously been classified as contained – but that is no longer the case.

“The fire has jumped the containment line and is now not contained and not controlled. We are putting all our resources into bringing the fire under control, including five helicopters responding,” Fire and Emergency New Zealand said in a statement released just after 5pm today.

The fire originated in a North Canterbury pine plantation.

“High gusty winds have caused multiple breakout fires this afternoon.

“We ask people to not light outdoor fires, and anyone who has lit one recently, please check it is fully extinguished.”

In the latest update about 9pm, Incident Controller Des Irving said: “Fire crews will remain on site overnight to monitor the fire. We will also have drones flying overnight to assist with fire mapping and intelligence.”

Multiple helicopters are slated to help tomorrow morning. Ground crews and heavy machinery were due to continue working to protect the standing forest and try and reestablish containment lines overnight Sunday.

“Thank you to the Waipara community for the support and understanding as our crews have continued work over the weekend. We expect to remain at the fireground for the rest of the week.”

Fenz said warm and windy weather was forecast for the area, prompting the agency to ask people to not light any fires in the coming days.

“We also urge people to check that old burn piles are fully extinguished,” Irving said.

In earlier updates, Fenz said while the fire was visible from the road, neighbouring properties weren’t in danger. There was no update on the risk to properties in the latest release.

In February, Waipara residents were evacuated from their homes after a 300ha vegetation fire in the Waikari Valley breached containment lines.