Firefighters are tackling a vegetation fire at Templeton in the Selwyn District, which was reported shortly after 4pm. Photo/Luigi Cooks
Firefighters are tackling a vegetation fire at Templeton in the Selwyn District, which was reported shortly after 4pm. Photo/Luigi Cooks
Fire and Emergency are currently tackling several vegetation fires across Selwyn, Central Otago and Southland that are being fanned by strong winds.
Fire crews and three helicopters have contained a fire burning on a steep hillside above Lake Dunstan in Central Otago and continue working in strong winds to secure the perimeter until dark.
Incident Controller Bobby Lamont said the firefighters from local volunteer brigades and the helicopter pilots had done a tremendous job in very challenging conditions to limit the fire to three hectares.
“The fire had reignited about 4:20pm from an earlier fire started by fireworks last night.”
Lamont said a crew would remain at the scene overnight and further ground crews would be back in the morning.
Firefighters are tackling a vegetation fire at Templeton in the Selwyn District, which was reported shortly after 4 pm. Photo/Luigi Cooks
The fire on Fruitgrowers Road was a short distance from the Clyde Dam, and smoke had blown over both Clyde and Alexandra townships, but has now dispersed.
“The winds in the area have been horrific - thankfully the face where the fire is burning is slightly sheltered, and we slammed extra resources onto it to make sure it didn’t impact the transmission lines from the dam,” Lamont said.
“Central Otago is already in a restricted fire season due to the dry conditions and elevated fire danger, as is the Lakes District and Upper Waitaki.
“We are urging people to think twice about letting off fireworks in windy conditions, and be aware that it only takes one spark to cause a wildfire.”
Firefighters are tackling a vegetation fire at Templeton in the Selwyn District, which was reported shortly after 4 pm.
9 December 2023
Photo/Luigi Cooks
Elsewhere in the South Island, firefighters are continuing to work on fires at Templeton in the Selwyn District and Glenham in Southland.
At Templeton, the fire in a shelter belt was brought under control earlier this evening and a crew will remain at the scene overnight.
Meanwhile, at Glenham, crews are still working on hotspots in the three-hectare forestry block.
One crew and a tanker will stay at the scene overnight, and more will return to continue extinguishing the fire tomorrow.
