Two big fires break out in Highbrook, Auckland and West Melton, Christchurch, evacuations under way

Police are going from property to property as a large fire burns in West Melton tonight. Photo / Cam Avery

Two large fires have broken out tonight – one in an industrial part of Auckland and the other in rural Canterbury, where evacuations are under way.

A large vegetation fire has broken out on a riverbed and spread to pine trees on Old West Coast Rd by the Waimakariri River, near West Melton.

A photo from the scene shows a huge blaze glowing red over the skyline.

“Very eerie to see it grow in size so quickly,” one person commented on Facebook. “Wind is so strong.”

Another said the image looked “apocalyptic”.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the fire was first reported about 9pm.

At 10pm, 10 trucks were on the scene at the end of Thompsons Rd.

“The fire is approximately 1km x 1km, with high winds in the area. Evacuations are under way east of Thompsons Rd to McKays Rd. Evacuees can go to West Melton Community Centre.

“Please continue to avoid the area while our crews work.”

Lincoln Volunteer Fire Brigade said wind is travelling their way and carrying the smoke over.

“Keep doors and windows shut.”

A photographer at the scene says firefighters are going “door to door”.

Firefighters are responding to a large vegetation fire near West Melton in Canterbury tonight. Photo / Isy Arambasic.

MetService has a strong wind watch in place for parts of Canterbury tonight, including the Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula.

”North to northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Moderate chance of upgrading to a warning.”

The watch is in place from 9pm tonight until Monday 2am.

The blaze comes days after a huge fire broke out in the Bridge Hill area, leading to school camps and part of a village being evacuated.

The Bridge Hill fire grew to about 1000ha in size, but is now under control.

A fire broke out in the South Auckland suburb of Highbrook around 21.10pm.

Meanwhile, Fire and Emergency said it responded to a 30m x 30m vegetation fire on Highbrook Drive in Auckland about 9.10pm.

“We sent three fire appliances and a water tanker.

“The fire is now out and one crew remains on site dampening down.”

Witnesses described seeing flames shooting up from the blaze as an orange glow lit up the horizon.

Photos showed smoke billowing from the blaze over a commercial area in Highbrook.

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