Christchurch City Council have declared a state of emergency and have started evacuating residents in the fire-struck Port Hills area
WHAT WE KNOW
• State of emergency declared in Christchurch and Selwyn. • A helicopter pilot is dead and at least eight homes have been destroyed. • At least three houses have been destroyed in the Worsley Rd area, not 40 as previously reported by Civil Defence. • Several fires have now merged into one which is threatening a densely populated suburban area. • Reports of 1000 people evacuating, up to 400 forced to evacuate by authorities. • Te Hapua Halswell Centre and the Nga Hau e Wha Marae are open for evacuated residents. • Police and the Defence Force are evacuating residents in the suburb of Cashmere Hills. • Residents on Long Hurst Terrace, off Dyers Pass Rd are told to evacuate immediately. • Homes along Kennedys Bush, Cashmere and Hoon Hay Valley roads are being evacuated. • Homes from the Sign of the Takahe to Victoria Park are being evacuated. • Several road closures. • A health warning issued for anyone suffering respiratory issues to contact their GP. • Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft have been stood down but fire crews will remain on the ground overnight.
More than 1000 residents have fled their homes and at least eight properties have burned to the ground as a huge wild fire rages on in Christchurch.
Terrified residents ran clutching precious belongings or bundled children into cars as the black smoke ballooned from the flames tearing through tinder dry scrub land.
Several fires have now merged into one which is threatening dense residential housing. The blaze is estimated to have scorched more than 1850ha of land and is still growing.
A state of emergency was declared in Christchurch and Selwyn, the Defence Force was deployed and health authorities issued warnings to vulnerable residents as black smoke drifted across the city.
Civil Defence revised down the number of homes destroyed on Worsley Spur tonight to at least three after earlier issuing a statement saying 40 homes had been lost.
A spokeswoman said the error was the result of misinformation being given to a rural fire officer and was revised following a "correction from the police on earlier information".
The incorrect figure was widely reported earlier tonight by media and made it into some copies of the morning Herald.
Little information was available on how the error occurred but hard questions will no doubt be asked of authorities in the morning.
Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee earlier yesterday questioned the emergency response, saying he was "perplexed" over why a state of emergency was not declared earlier.
When contacted just after midnight about the developing emergency situation, Brownlee said, "You've got to be kidding. Call me in the morning."
As the fire raged on, additional police and Defence Force staff were brought in to work through the night evacuating households at risk from the huge flames.
"Police and New Zealand Defence personnel are currently evacuating homes in the Kennedys Bush, Cashmere and Hoon Hay Valley roads as well as homes from the Sign of the Takahe to Victoria Park. The advice from Civil Defence is that if you have any concerns about your safety, leave your home."
Listen live to Newstalk ZB tonight and into the morning for the latest updates
Selwyn Principal Rural Fire Officer Douglas Marshall said staff had earlier evacuated about 300 to 400 people from the area and hundreds more had self-evacuated.
Marshall said the fires were no longer contained.
Emergency services from outside the region were being mobilised to battle the fire and staff were looking at a national coordination effort to bring in further resources.
"We're really struggling at the moment without the helicopters. It's too dangerous at night for those. We are trying to do any structure protection we can but that's got to be balanced with lives."
Emergency evacuations were underway in the Cashmere Hills after the fire jumped Dyers Pass Rd into Victoria Park.
Police were also evacuating properties on Long Hurst Terrace, off Dyers Pass Road, and warning residents to leave their properties immediately.
Displaced residents can head to the welfare centre at Halswell Library, Halswell Rd and the Nga Hau e Wha Marae is also open.
Anyone not able to evacuate themselves or concerned about a flare up which may threaten lives or property should call 111.
Emily Rose Maree told the Herald she was evacuated just before midnight from her mother's house in Ravensdale Rise, Westmorland.
"Police were door knocking and advising everyone they needed to leave immediately.
"Police and army patrols have put a cordon in place at the corner Cashmere Rd/Penruddock Rise stopping anyone entering the area and advising people that when leaving you cannot come back until further notice and instructions."
Helicopters and fixed planes have been stood down for the night, but fire crews will remain on the ground overnight.
"There is the potential for fires to continue to spread towards residential properties overnight, with fresh easterly winds continuing," Civil Defence has warned.
"Evacuation areas will be extended overnight if the need arises."
Image 1 of 10: The Port Hills on fire viewed from Halswell. Picture / twitter
Kordia CEO Scott Bartlett says the company's transmission site at the summit of Sugarloaf is under "significant threat" from the fire.
The transmission site provides several services, including television and radio for the Christchurch area.
Bartlett said the company was preparing for the worst.
Smoke from the Port Hills Fires can be seen from space. Picture / NASA
Senior Sergeant Steve Bothamley said police would have extra patrols out overnight to assist those in the areas affected by the fires and provide reassurance to residents.
Police will also be checking in on those affected by an earlier power outages that affected more than 80,000 homes across the city.
Meanwhile, three investigations are under way Ex-SAS serviceman David Steven Askin, 38, died in a Squirrel chopper crash while fighting the fire near the Sugarloaf car park in the Port Hills on Tuesday.
Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission are all investigating the crash. Officials hope to retrieve the wreckage today.
• Worsley Rd • Hoon Hay Rd - from Cashmere Rd, and • Kennedys Bush Rd - from Cashmere Rd. • Dyers Pass Rd has also been evacuated from Sign of the Takahe • Early Valley Rd
Road Closures
• Cashmere Rd is closed west of Kaiwara St through to Kennedys Bush Rd. • Worsley Rd is closed • Hoon Hay Valley Rd is closed • Kennedys Bush Rd is closed form the roundabout with Rock Hill Drive. This includes the southbound cycle track • Worsley Track from Worsley Rd is closed • Dyers Pass Rd is closed between Hackthorne Rd to Governors Bay Rd. Use the Lyttelton Tunnel or Gebbies Pass as the alternate route • Summit Rd is closed between Gebbies Pass and Rapaki Track • Old Tai Tapu Rd is closed between Osterholts Rd and Early Valley Rd • Early Valley Rd is closed • Holmes Rd is closed.
Power
Orion remains on full alert, with the rapidly changing fire posing a threat to power supply to the Port Hills and the greater city.
Health Advice
People have been told to stay indoors to avoid smoke inhalation.
Dr Alistair Humphrey, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health has advised that anyone suffering respiratory issues contact their GP.
"For the vast majority of people, the smoke will be unpleasant, but carries no risk to their health. However, smoke may irritate the eyes, nose, throat and airways. More serious symptoms include runny or sore eyes, dry or sore throat, sore nose, cough, tightness of the chest or difficulty breathing.
