Latest from Fires

Big jump in rural fire figures

As large-scale scrub fires continue to burn across tinder-dry farmland, the Fire Service says the country has seen a 50 per cent jump in the number of rural fires this year.

Nervous wait for family as fire surrounds farm

A fire that started in Marlborough overnight continued to rage today. Homes have been threatened from the fire blazing through 150ha of scrub near Onamalutu.

Large scrub fires threaten homes

Hundreds of firefighters are battling large scrub blazes as dry weather has created tinderbox conditions across the country, the Fire Service says. Blazes in Canterbury, Marlborough and Manawatu are keeping about 330 firefighters busy.

Man who burned down storage units named

Firefighters battle multiple scrub fires

Hundreds of firefighters are battling large scrub blazes as dry weather has created tinderbox conditions across the country, the Fire Service says.

Chopper fighting massive fire crashes

A 47-year-old helicopter pilot made a lucky escape after his machine crashed while battling a blaze which was raging out of control in Marlborough today.

Fears for life as fire engulfs suburb

Minutes after an inferno ripped across a tinder-dry paddock behind her Christchurch home, Julia Walker thought she was going to die.

Massive fire: Residents return home

Some residents are re-entering their homes in the Christchurch suburb of Hei Hei as firefighters continue to dampen down areas razed by a large fire today.

'Explosive' fire risk for South Island

Department of Conservation gives warning as ground crews launch another onslaught against a large scrub fire ripping through more than 300ha at Arthurs Pass.

Woman burned at petrol station critical

The 29-year-old woman who suffered serious burns outside a Dunedin service station has been transferred to Middlemore Hospital's burns unit.

Arthur's Pass fire started in odd spots

A scrub fire that spread across 330ha of the Southern Alps may have started in separate areas, police said yesterday as firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control.

Hot time down on the farm

A teenage farmhand became an accidental hero after keeping a potentially disastrous scrub fire at bay.

Cyclist, driver could hold clue to fire

Two cyclists and a tractor driver could hold the key to working out how a massive scrub fire started near Arthurs Pass yesterday.

Woman burns at Dunedin petrol station

"I saw a person burning from the waist up". Witnesses have described their horror at seeing a woman catch fire at a Dunedin petrol station yesterday.

Woman hospitalized with severe burns

A woman is in hospital in Dunedin after suffering serious burns at a service station.

How did one train trip spark 21 fires?

"We thought we had it covered''. An investigation has been launched into what caused a steam train to start 21 fires south of Oamaru.