Port Hills fire: State of local emergency declared; helicopters battle large fire in Christchurch; Princess Margaret Hospital and residents evacuated
A state of local emergency has been declared for Christchurch City, including Banks Peninsula, and the Selwyn District due to the impacts of the Port Hills fire which is burning uncontrolled.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger and Selwyn District Council Mayor Sam Broughton made the declaration at 6.13pm.
Fire and Emergency NZ crews are battling the large fire with up to 12 helicopters at times, 25 trucks and about 130 firefighters.
In an update just before 11pm, Fire and Emergency said 22 fire crews would continue battling the blaze overnight. From 6am, 23 appliances would be back on the ground, supported by 13 helicopters and two fixed-wing aircrafts.
The Princess Margaret Hospital and homes in the area are being evacuated.
All residents of Worsleys Rd and Worsleys Spur have been told by authorities to “evacuate now”.
An evacuation centre has been set up at Te Hapua Halswell Library and Community Centre, and at the Lincoln Community Centre for people who live closer to Selwyn.
Te Whatu Ora National Public Health Service has also issued a public health warning for smoke from the fire.
“Air around this location is smoky and there is potential that people who are sensitive to smoke - such as those with heart or lung conditions, people who are pregnant, young children and the elderly - may experience symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath or eye, nose and throat irritation.”
People affected by the smoke should close windows and doors and reduce outdoor exercise. Those concerned about their health can call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
Story continues after live blog:
Fire & Emergency: What to expect overnight
James Wheeler
A final update tonight from Fire and Emergency Services:
22 Fire and Emergency crews will continue fire operations at a vegetation fire on the Port Hills, Christchurch overnight.
Crews will also be carrying out monitoring and reassurance checks at Governors Bay and Early Valley Rd.
From 6am, 23 appliances will be back on the ground.
They will be supported by 13 helicopters and two fixed wing aircrafts focused on retardant drops.
Residents who have been evacuated will not be able to return home tonight, and cordons remain in place.
An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun, and our Fire Investigator is asking for help from the public.
People who have photographs or videos of the Port Hills taken between 1.45pm and 2.45pm today are asked to email them to PortHills2024Photos@fireandemergency.nz with their name and contact details, when the photo or footage was taken and where the photographer was.
The period between 1.45pm and 2.45pm covers the half hour before the fire was reported until half an hour afterwards.
James Wheeler
A photo taken from Charteris Bay shows the Port Hills fire has now moved to the south face of the hill
Bailey Brannon
Bailey Brannon
All helicopters have now been grounded
Bailey Brannon
FENZ confirms fire remains uncontained
Bailey Brannon
A FENZ spokesman said the fire was not contained. Helicopters would be grounded at 9.15pm and back on at first light.
About 150 personnel have been involved in fighting the fire with a “large number” working on them overnight.
Those who have been evacuated will not be allowed back tonight.
“We’re unsure with the wind what’s going to happen, we don't’ want to risk people going back to their homes.
“The fire is up around summit road, got some concern around that area.
“It seems to be a fast moving thing.”
The situation will be reassessed in the morning with a meeting at 11am.
He confirmed no structure damage at this stage.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Norton told those in attendance the cordons would be manned overnight by police.
Bailey Brannon
James Wheeler
A briefing for evacuated residents is about to begin at the Halswell Community Centre with about 50 people in attendance.
Nearly 9pm, Westmorland. Helicopters still going
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
More from our photographer:
James Wheeler
Latest from our photographer George Heard
James Wheeler
Taken from Westmorland at 8:30pm
James Wheeler
Photos of the fire from Westmorland
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
Latest from Fire and Emergency
James Wheeler
Firefighters, helicopters and heavy machinery are continuing to battle the vegetation fire on the Port Hills above Christchurch.
Fire and Emergency has 130 firefighters on the ground, 11 helicopters with monsoon buckets conducting the air attack, and heavy machinery constructing fire breaks.
The fire is not yet contained, and residents who have been evacuated will not be able to return home tonight.
There will be a briefing for evacuated residents at the Halswell Community Centre at 9pm tonight.
Commander Dave Stackhouse said firefighting efforts are currently focusing on the Worsley Spur flank of the fire and Summit Road.
Crews are also carrying out structure protection around properties in Hoon Hay Valley Road.
The helicopters will continue working until dark, and ground operations will continue through the night.
Cordons remain in place and people are asked to stay well away from the area so traffic build-up doesn’t delay emergency services.
James Wheeler
From our reporter on the ground Sam Sherwood:
Worsleys Rd resident Kate Bracefield told the Herald she was at work when the fire began and tried going to get her cat but was not allowed through the cordon.
"What I know is that the fire has moved, it looks like it's moved away from the Worsleys Rd residents' houses, that's the update I've had from residents and people who are still lower down.
"I don't think the entire road is evacuated, some people still have a view. It seems to be going around behind Westmorland."
As far as she was aware her home and nearby homes were safe.
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
Watch: Full Fire & Emergency press conference
James Wheeler
State of local emergency declared
James Wheeler
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger and Selwyn District Council Mayor Sam Broughton have agreed that a State of Local Emergency be declared for Christchurch City (which includes Banks Peninsula) and Selwyn District due to the impacts of the fire in the Port Hills.
The declaration was made at 6:13pm.
“The declaration means we are better able to coordinate our response across all the various agencies involved, and will mean we can get assistance to where it’s most needed. It also means the local Controller can evacuate people or restrict access to affected areas as required,” says Mayor Mauger.
The fire started around 2.30pm today in the Worsley area in the Port Hills and has spread into Selwyn. With hot, dry, and windy conditions expected to continue, there have been a number of evacuations in the area.
An evacuation centre has been set up at Te Hapua Halswell Library and Community Centre, and at the Lincoln Community Centre for people who live closer to Selwyn.
The public is urged to stay away from the area.
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
We'll have full video of the press conference shortly.
James Wheeler
Smoke from the blaze can be seen as far away as Ashburton and is covering the whole of the Banks Peninsula.
James Wheeler
Canterbury Fire and Emergency NZ commander Dave Stackhouse says the fire is not contained.
There are 25 appliances on the scene, more than 130 firefighters, as well as 12 helicopters and multiple heavy machinery.
No houses have been lost yet but that information was from one hour ago.
About five or six houses are under immediate threat from the flames.
James Wheeler
Smoke: Public health warning
James Wheeler
Te Whatu Ora has issued a public health warning for smoke from the fire located near Cracroft, Christchurch.
Air around this location is smoky and there is potential that people who are sensitive to smoke – such as those with heart or lung conditions, people who are pregnant, young children and the elderly – may experience symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath or eye, nose and throat irritation.
Dr Matt Reid, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service says exposure to smoke can worsen pre-existing health conditions such as heart and lung disease.
“People affected by the smoke should close windows and doors and reduce outdoor exercise”.
The experience of being exposed to an event like a fire can be distressing and it’s normal to feel anxious in situations like this.
If you are feeling anxious or just need someone to talk to, you can call or text 1737 any time and you can speak to (or text) a trained counsellor free of charge or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
If you see or smell smoke outside, you should stay inside if it is safe to do so.
Remember to:
- Keep your windows and doors shut
- Switch your air conditioning to ‘recirculate’ Air out your house when the smoke clears
- Look out for children, older people, and others at risk
- Keep pets inside with clean water and food.
- Keep pets’ bedding inside if possible.
James Wheeler
The mercury has topped 29C in Christchurch, MetService says, with hot nor-west winds gusting to 52km/h and fanning the flames.
James Wheeler
Fire and Emergency NZ update now at 6:05pm we understand.
James Wheeler
“Looks bloody close to those houses at the top,” a Port Hills resident told our newsroom.
James Wheeler
Christchurch-based MP Duncan Webb said: “Thinking of those affected by the fire in the Port Hills, especially those that were affected last time. Make sure you keep an eye out for any instructions or warnings.”
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
Another plume of darker-looking smoke.
James Wheeler
On Facebook, local Banks Peninsula MP Vanessa Weenink said: “Please be careful and avoid the area.
"Thanking Fire and Emergency NZ for all they are doing to fight another fire yet again on the Port Hills.”
Councillor Sara Templeton has posted on Facebook, urging people not to use drones.
PM on Port Hills fires
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
We are still waiting for that update from Fire and Emergency NZ. It was meant to be at 5pm but our reporter says no update yet.
James Wheeler
“Smoke getting bigger,” a Port Hills resident told NZME.
“Helicopters are concentrating on the houses,” the resident said.
James Wheeler
Video / @suren.sivalingam
James Wheeler
Second evacuation centre set up
James Wheeler
Latest from police:
A second evacuation centre has been established at the Lincoln Community Centre for people closer to Selwyn.
Emergency services remain on scene near and in Cracroft, Port Hills where the fire continues to blaze.
Cordons remain in place and roads surrounding the area are closed whilst Fire and Emergency crews respond to the blaze.
Motorists are also advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
Worsleys Rd, where emergency services said today’s fire was reported, was at the epicentre of the devastating 2017 fires.
Several homes on the Port Hills road above Christchurch were razed to the ground during the fires which raged exactly seven years ago.
"Our family home for 20 years, it's all just gone," Simon Grace told the Herald at the time as he sifted through its smouldering remains.
"It's not easy. It's not till you see the extent of it with your own eyes that it really hits you."
James Wheeler
Fire and Emergency NZ will provide an update at 5pm.
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
A new emergency alert has been sent.
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
The fire is now dangerously close to a power line, reporter at the scene Pierre Nixon tells us.
James Wheeler
Newstalk ZB reporter Claire Sherwood says the smoke has changed distinctly darker - it’s very black now.
Helicopters 'literally just a dot with the smoke'
James Wheeler
“It’s pretty f***ing intense. It’s like last time,” resident Mark Howell said, suggesting it was a similar feeling to the Port Hills fires of 2017.
“The helicopters are literally just a dot with the smoke. Mum said she got an evacuation notice. It’s all a bit scary, fingers crossed it won’t be too bad. They’ve got loads of people working on it.”
Update from our reporter at the scene
James Wheeler
Thanks to Pierre Nixon for this report:
Police are preventing residents from going up Worsleys Rd.
Anxious residents can be seen casting worried glances towards the inferno.
St John ambulances can seen heading up towards the top of Worsleys Rd.
A number of helicopters are swooping down to extract water from properties and a reserve on the Port Hills.
An orange flame can be seen on the horizon close to a nearby power line.
Sirens are reverberating relentlessly across the Port Hills.
A large truck carrying a digger can be seen heading up Worsleys Rd to provide assistance.
James Wheeler
The Princess Margaret Hospital at the foot of Port Hills has been evacuated.
It operates mainly mental health inpatient and outpatient services.
James Wheeler
“You can actually see the flames coming down the hill. It’s heading towards the pylons,” a resident has told our newsroom.
“It’s coming down the hill towards Cashmere Road. You can actually see the flames. The helicopters are still going.
“[The fire is] pretty big.” “I can’t see any houses on fire from here - you can definitely see flames though.”
James Wheeler
The Herald understands a call has been made for further helicopters to join the effort.
James Wheeler
Video from reporter Pierre Nixon
James Wheeler
James Wheeler
An Emergency Mobile Alert has been issued advising all residents of Worsleys Road and Worsleys Spur to evacuate immediately.
So far, 10 people have been evacuated with the assistance of Police, with more to be evacuated.
An evacuation centre has been setup at Halswell Library and Community Centre.
Houses being evacuated
James Wheeler
Police are urging the public to avoid the area around Worsleys Rd, Cracroft as emergency services respond to a large scrub fire.
Police received a report of a fire on Worsley’s Track at around 2.15pm, which soon spread.
Emergency services are evacuating people from nearby properties to Te Hapua – Halswell Centre / Library & Community Centre.
Cordons are in place and roads surrounding the area are closed whilst Fire and Emergency crews respond to the blaze.
Motorists are also advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
James Wheeler
From our reporter Pierre Nixon:
A group of concerned residents have formed a queue along Worsley's Road and are currently being spoken to by emergency services.
Police officers can be seen speaking with residents heading towards properties on the Port Hills.
One resident appears visibly upset while speaking on the phone.
The wind is blowing the smoke plume towards the southwest of the Port Hills.
Multiple police units and firefighters are on the scene.
Helicopters can be seen collecting water in monsoon buckets.
Story continues:
The fire was first reported at 2.15pm.
“The public is urged to stay away from the area to allow crews to work,” said the spokesperson.
A number of power outages have been reported across the city.
According to Orion, outages are in Aranui, Avondale, Avonside, Bromley, Burwood, City, Ferrymead, Kirwee, Linwood, Opawa, Phillipstown, Richmond, Rolleston, South New Brighton, Southshore, St Albans, Travis, Wainoni, Waltham, Westhaven, and Woolston.
Fenz earlier advised that Canterbury has been put under extreme fire danger today.
NZME staffer Matthew Lowe lives in Halswell with a view of the hills.
Earlier this afternoon, he could see “a bit of smoke drifting across” but that had “increased substantially” since.
”A couple of sites have ignited and every now and then you can see the flames,” he said.
By 3.40pm he could see the fire moving down the hill, rather than across as it had been earlier.
Lowe could see monsoon buckets being emptied onto the blaze, which he said was “really intensifying”.
“With helicopters in the air already, the public is also warned to not fly drones anywhere near the fire ground as this will mean the helicopters will have to be grounded, which will seriously impact our ability to control the spread of the fire.”
Hoon Hay resident Matthew Comins said he could see the “massive fire” from his property.
It is understood helicopter pilots have been using a community swimming pool at Halswell and private pools to fill monsoon buckets.
The fire can be seen across many parts of Canterbury.
Port Hills fire in February 2017
Worsleys Rd, where Fenz said today’s fire was reported, was at the epicentre of the devastating 2017 fires.
Wildfires broke out in the Port Hills, burning through a total of 1600ha in 2017.
The blaze destroyed nine homes and damaged another five.
It took 66 days before the fires were fully extinguished.
One life was lost - helicopter pilot Steve Askin, a war hero wounded in a five-hour shootout in 2011 after the Taliban stormed the InterContinental Hotel in Kabul.
Several homes on the Port Hills road above Christchurch were razed to the ground during the fires which raged seven years ago.
“Our family home for 20 years, it’s all just gone,” Simon Grace told the Herald at the time as he sifted through its smouldering remains.
“It’s not easy. It’s not till you see the extent of it with your own eyes that it really hits you.”
Askin joined the fight to put out the rampant fires and was on his way to refill his chopper’s monsoon bucket when it encountered turbulence and wind shear.
A side window was dislodged into the cabin and flew out of an open door. The chopper crashed soon afterwards.
The 38-year-old father-of-two was named as the winner of the Herald’s New Zealander of the Year People’s Choice Award for 2017.