Large fire in hills overlooking Dunedin contained

Monday, 16 September 2019

Fire crews and helicopters battle a large scrub fire near the Pineapple - Flagstaff walking track in Dunedin.

A large scrub fire in the Flagstaff area of Dunedin that saw five properties evacuated has been contained.

Emergency services were called to the blaze, near the Pineapple-Flagstaff walking track, shortly after 1pm on Monday.

A large fire in the Flagstaff area of Dunedin can be seen from around the city.

Fire and Emergency NZ regional manager Mike Grant said 'a bunch' of properties on Rudd Rd had been evacuated as a precaution. Civil Defence set up an evacuation centre at the Flagstaff Community Church, on Centennial Ave in Helensburgh.

Dunedin City Council said in a statement five families visited the centre, but had made other arrangements for the night. The centre had closed but would be on standby overnight.

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The fire, as seen from street level in Dunedin.

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The fire is burning on a hill overlooking Dunedin city.

* Fire crews at the scene of large fire in Dunedin**

Eight helicopters, four rural fire vehicles and one fire engine fought the vegetation fire, covering at least 12 hectares, through the afternoon. Heavy machinery cleared firebreaks around the blaze.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman says several helicopters were fighting the blaze.

The fire was helped by 'receptive' weather conditions, Grant said. 'It was warm and dry and windy with quite low humidity for this time of year.'

The cause of the fire was not yet known.

A Fenz spokesman said the fire was contained subject to the weather staying consistent.

He said helicopters were stood down about 6.30pm, and ground crews would be stood down about 7pm. Several hotspots would be monitored and dampened down overnight by a crew of four.

Firefighters would return at first light on Tuesday.

Grant said a decision on whether to allow evacuated residents back into their homes would be made based on weather conditions.

A police spokeswoman described the blaze as a 'large scrub fire'.

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She said police was assisting with traffic control and had closed Rudd Rd, Whare Flat Rd, Tanner Rd and the Pineapple-Flagstaff walking track..

The Redwood mountain bike track had also been evacuated, with cordons set up near the Redwoods car park and Wakari Rd.

A Three Mile Hill resident said it looked like 'Dunedin is in smoke' from her home on the hill: 'I just can't see the city at all'.

She said 'quite a bit of the hill' was on fire but it looked like the helicopters were winning the battle as she could not see flames anymore.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said she felt safe where she was at the moment as the wind was blowing away from her house.

MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said there was an easterly wind in Dunedin, which was gusting up to 54kmh at Swampy Summit, not far from the Pineapple-Flagstaff walking track.

He said there was a strong wind watch in place for Dunedin from 5pm, with winds expected to turn to northwesterlies approaching gale force in exposed places at times.

A Dunedin City Council spokeswoman said all tracks in the area had been closed to the public.

Members of the public are asked to avoid the area.