Former Whangarei resident's family in line of Christchurch fires

General view of the devastation caused by the bush fires that blazed through the Port Hills overlooking Christchurch this week. Photo/NZME

The family of a former Whangarei journalist was among 1000 Christchurch residents forced to leave their homes during wildfires that destroyed homes and forced evacuations.

Joseph Aldridge, his wife Nancy and their two sons live on the suburb of Allandale next to Governors Bay where the fires burnt and decided to leave for a friend's place in the city on Tuesday.

They spent two nights at the alternative accommodation before returning home on Thursday.

The wildfires had started last Monday night and had forced the evacuation of 1000 residents and torched 11 homes.

Fire crews from around the region have been drafted in to fight the blaze.

Mr Aldridge, a former reporter with the Northern Advocate, said he had never seen a fire that big which covered such a large area of land.

He works for the Living Springs Camp and Conference Centre on the Banks Peninsula which caters for groups, including students.

"Luckily we didn't have any school groups when the fires started but we were waiting for the first school group to come in on Wednesday but that was cancelled.

"Some of our neighbours decided to leave their homes on Tuesday evening but we decided to stay because there were no flames on our side, although no choppers working at night meant the fires could move faster," he said.

Mr Aldridge said his family decided to leave on Wednesday and slept a lot better when they moved to a friend's house in the city.

He went to work on Wednesday but said thoughts of the fires prompted him to look out the window from time to time.

"By Thursday our situation was a lot better as most fires had been put out and we decided to move back into our house.

"Light rain is predicted today (Friday) but the fires could ignite if the wind changes. Nobody is totally relaxing."

Mr Aldridge compared his family's anxiety to the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch when, while working in Whangarei, he was stranded in Christchurch.

"What's happening is sad for Christchurch but it's a very resilient community, they love this city and while they are affected on occasions, they pick up the pieces and move on," he said.

Another former Whangarei resident, Greg Overton, lives in Lyttelton, and said it was "pretty scary" seeing the fires burning away.

His house is 8km away and his family was not directly threatened by the fires.

He is originally from One Tree Pt and has lived in Christchurch for five years.

Meanwhile, firefighters haven't yet totally extinguished the blaze and say a lot more work is needed as temperatures and winds are predicted to rise.

With hundreds of evacuees still unlikely to be allowed back home yesterday, officials are warning the week-old blaze, which has destroyed 11 houses and scorched more than 2000ha, still has the potential to flare up again.

Up to 150 firefighters, some from as far away as Invercargill and Palmerston North, will work on the fire this week.