Massive fire still burning in south Canterbury

Smoke drifts across the Waimate Gorge during the bush fire. Photo / Alex Fensome

A massive fire has engulfed the hills above Waimate in south Canterbury, burning more than 170ha of land so far.

Large swathes of vegetation in the Waimate Gorge area have been decimated, while firefighters are battling to prevent the blaze spreading into a pine plantation north of the gorge.

A forecast southerly change tonight was expected to drive the fire towards the plantation and threaten a 100-year-old glade of lowland totara.

At 5pm, 63 firefighters were still battling the blaze.

"Preventing the fire from moving into the forestry plantations is our priority at this stage, said Bryan Jensen, South Canterbury Rural Fire incident controller.

"Elsewhere we're endeavouring to contain it to the area that's already burnt.

"There is still a strong nor'west wind and the southerly that was forecast this morning is now not going to eventuate, said Mr Jensen.

"Firefighters from across Canterbury will continue into the evening and a monitoring crew of between 6 and 8 firefighters will watch the fire overnight."

Local farmers are expecting stock losses. The Oamaru Mail saw at least three sheep caught up against fencing as the fire advanced around them. There are likely to be more.

The fire service was alerted at 6.30pm on Tuesday. It is not yet known how the fire started.

By this morning, fire crews from throughout the central South Island were working alongside five helicopters.

Bulldozers have also been used to create fire-breaks between the pines and burnt gorse.

Incident Commander Bryan Jensen said the fire had been contained but much work needed to be done before the area was safe.

"We're going to be there for quite some time," he said. "It's pretty substantial."

Fire crews were concentrating on preventing the fire from spreading into the pine plantation, which was a real concern with the forecast southerly change, Mr Jensen said.

A southerly wind would make conditions more unpredictable.

On the spot, Sector Bravo supervisor Bruce Janes said the bulldozers and fire crews were successful and there was "no way" the fire could spread into the pines.

The totara glade inside the fire zone which was untouched as yet represented "the biggest ecological value", Mr Janes said.

While the valuble pine plantation appeared to have been saved, the totara would still be at risk until the fire was fully under control.

Native bush is naturally more resistant to fire than gorse as it carries more water.

The fire service has shipped in retardant which was being dumped by helicopter onto vegetation surrounding the fire.

The helicopters were being supplied from the Waimate High School grounds.

Smoke from the blaze was clearly visible from the town and State Highway 82, which at the Waimate Gorge wound through scorched hillside with groups of people watching the fire service's efforts from the road.

Waimate Mayor John Coles said he was returning from council on Tuesday night when he saw the beginning of the fire.

"I could see how the fires wouldn't be easy to get to with firefighting equipment," he said. He knew the nor'westers would make it very challenging for the fire crews.

"This morning I was quite horrified to look out and see the fire was getting closer to the town."

Mr Coles said he had been kept informed throughout the day and had been to the command office set up by the South Canterbury Rural Fire District at the Waimate Fire Station.

"They've done a very good job," he said. "I really feel for those guys. It's bad enough getting hot from the fire but with the wind as well...."

The council has already discussed its response to the fire and will be dealing with it as time goes on, Mr Coles said.

- Oamaru Mail, NZ Herald stuff

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