Fire crews are battling a large forestry blaze near the Waimakariri River in Canterbury this evening.
The Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) national media team said crews were responding to a “large fire in forestry” on Old West Coast Rd near Kirwee.
A witness at the scene told the Herald huge pine trees were engulfed in flames within seconds.
Police were evacuating multiple houses in the area as the fire spread and had established a road block, stopping all traffic.
