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Fires that raged overnight in windy conditions in the Waitaki District have been contained, but work to solidify the perimeters and extinguish hotspots is under way.
Residents who self-evacuated from the Nenthorn fire last night are not yet able to return as crews are still working near their homes.
Multiple wildfires sent smoke as far away as Ōamaru, forcing some residents to leave their homes.
No dwellings were lost in either fire but a small number of farm buildings have been destroyed or damaged at Nenthorn, near Middlemarch.
That fire was mapped at 78ha of farmland during this morning’s aerial reconnaissance.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) incident controller Bobby Lamont said the Middlemarch crew, which was first on the scene at Nenthorn, did “an amazing job” to protect a house from the flames.
Crews from six other volunteer brigades also responded, as well as the command unit from Dunedin. Fresh crews supported by three helicopters are working at Nenthorn this morning.
A fire investigator will be examining the area where the fire started to establish the cause.
Lamont said that two other fires were started by embers blown by the wind from the original blaze.
The second fire, at Earthquakes near Duntroon, has burnt about 30ha of conservation land.
Incident controller at that fire, Jason Sarich, said that firefighters had worked very hard in challenging conditions to contain the fire, with gale-force winds on the fireground overnight.
Another 30 firefighters and two helicopters were working on the Earthquakes fire this morning.
They would be joined by two crews of firefighters from the Department of Conservation today. Fire and Emergency’s command unit from Timaru is also at the scene.
Helicopters with monsoon buckets will begin helping fight the fires in Waitaki at first light. Photo / Joe Allison
Overnight, Lamont said three households had self-evacuated. If anyone else felt uneasy or unsafe they should also leave their homes.
The Earthquakes fire was an estimated 20h at 5.30am and no structures were at risk, Fenz said.
Commander Phil Marsh said two helicopters and heavy machinery would be working on the fire this morning.
Around 4.15am cordons were being established at both ends of Earthquake Rd, and the electricity had been disconnected so crews could work safely. People were asked to avoid the area.
Nenthorne, Ramrock and Butter and Egg Rds have also been closed.
‘If you are concerned, call 111′
Smoke from the Earthquakes fire could be seen and smelled as far away as Ōamaru, Fenz said.
That had prompted several people to call 111 earlier this morning.
“Wherever you are, if you see or smell smoke and are concerned, please always call 111 so our trained dispatchers in our communications centre can assess whether this is a new fire,” Fenz said.
