A major fire emergency is unfolding in Christchurch, with homes evacuated as high winds fan a blaze in the city's Port Hills.
Fifteen fire trucks, 130 firefighters and a dozen helicopters are working to contain the fire.
It's forced the evacuation of residents in the subdivision of Westmorland - with eerie similarities to the 2017 Port Hills Fire that claimed the life of a helicopter pilot seven years ago.
What you need to know
- Fire and Emergency are battling a large fire in Port Hills in Christchurch
- The mayors of Christchurch and Selwyn have declared a Local State of Emergency
- Police have evacuated residents from 5-6 properties
- People asked to evacuate the area cannot return to their homes tonight
- Princess Margaret Hospital has been evacuated
- The public has been asked to stay away from Port Hills, and stay off the roads
- Two evacuation centres have been set up - one at Te Hāpua Halswell Library, and a second at Lincoln Community Centre
- Te Whatu Ora says residents should keep windows and doors shut. Keep pets inside, and look out for children, older people, and others at risk
11:00pm - That concludes Newshub's live updates for Wednesday.
10:55pm - Fire & Emergency has issued a new update
Twenty-two Fire and Emergency crews will continue fire operations at a vegetation fire on the Port Hills, Christchurch overnight.
Crews will also be carrying out monitoring and reassurance checks at Governors Bay and Early Valley Rd.
From 6am tomorrow, 23 appliances will be back on the ground. They will be supported by 13 helicopters and two fixed wing aircrafts focused on retardant drops.
Residents who have been evacuated will not be able to return home tonight, and cordons remain in place.
An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun, and our Fire Investigator is asking for help from the public.
People who have photographs or videos of the Port Hills taken between 1.45pm and 2.45pm today are asked to email them to PortHills2024Photos@fireandemergency.nz with their name and contact details, when the photo or footage was taken and where the photographer was.
The period between 1.45pm and 2.45pm covers the half hour before the fire was reported until half an hour afterwards.
This will be the final update for tonight.
9.20pm - Local resident Alison Keller told Newshub she knew something was amiss when she saw smoke billowing from the hills earlier this afternoon.
"We knew the history of this area, when we built the house," she said.
"I guess we never thought this would happen again."
8.25pm - Fire & Emergency has just issued an update.
Firefighters, helicopters and heavy machinery are continuing to battle the vegetation fire on the Port Hills above Christchurch.
Fire and Emergency has 130 firefighters on the ground, 11 helicopters with monsoon buckets conducting the air attack, and heavy machinery constructing fire breaks.
The fire is not yet contained, and residents who have been evacuated will not be able to return home tonight.
There will be a briefing for evacuated residents at the Halswell Community Centre at 9pm tonight.
Commander Dave Stackhouse said firefighting efforts are currently focusing on the Worsley Spur flank of the fire and Summit Road.
Crews are also carrying out structure protection around properties in Hoon Hay Valley Road.
The helicopters will continue working until dark, and ground operations will continue through the night.
Cordons remain in place and people are asked to stay well away from the area so traffic build-up doesn’t delay emergency services.
8.05pm - Politicians have shared messages on social media in the wake of the fire in Ōtautahi.
ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden and Greens co-leader James Shaw posted updates on X.
7.55pm - There are now 13 helicopters in the sky above Port Hills trying to tackle the blaze.
7.20pm - Newshub weather presenter Heather Keats said the hot, dry and windy conditions in Christchurch are set to last for at least another 24 hours.
She said around 5pm the wind shifted and a norwester arrived, that drove the temperature up around four degrees. She said it should start to ease around midnight but will ramp up again on Thursday morning.
Keats said Thursday will be dry and hot in the region but a front will roll in in the evening shifting to a souwester and a few welcome showers.
6.55pm - The mayors of Christchurch and Selwyn have declared a Local State of Emergency.
“The declaration means we are better able to coordinate our response across all the various agencies involved, and will mean we can get assistance to where it’s most needed. It also means the local Controller can evacuate people or restrict access to affected areas as required,” says Mayor Mauger.
The fire started around 2.30pm today in the Worsley area in the Port Hills and has spread into Selwyn. With hot, dry, and windy conditions expected to continue, there have been a number of evacuations in the area.
An evacuation centre has been set up at Te Hāpua Halswell Library and Community Centre, and at the Lincoln Community Centre for people who live closer to Selwyn.
The public are urged to stay away from the area.
6.45pm - Sergeant Vaughan Kyne of Canterbury police told reporters they're mindful of the devastating Port Hill fires of 2017.
He said "one or two" people didn't want to leave their homes when asked to evacuate, but police negotiated with them.
He urged the public to stay off the roads despite the attraction of watching the fire.
"We need these roads cleared."
6.36pm - Te Whatu Ora has issued a public health warning for smoke from the fire located near Cracroft, Christchurch.
Air around this location is smoky and there is potential that people who are sensitive to smoke – such as those with heart or lung conditions, people who are pregnant, young children and the elderly – may experience symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath or eye, nose and throat irritation.
Dr Matt Reid, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service says exposure to smoke can worsen pre-existing health conditions such as heart and lung disease.
“People affected by the smoke should close windows and doors and reduce outdoor exercise”.
The experience of being exposed to an event like a fire can be distressing and it’s normal to feel anxious in situations like this. If you are feeling anxious or just need someone to talk to, you can call or text 1737 any time and you can speak to (or text) a trained counsellor free of charge or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
If you see or smell smoke outside, you should stay inside if it is safe to do so.
Remember to:
- Keep your windows and doors shut
- Switch your air conditioning to ‘recirculate’
- Air out your house when the smoke clears
- Look out for children, older people, and others at risk
- Keep pets inside with clean water and food. Keep pets’ bedding inside if possible
6.33pm - Fire crews will work through the night, and tomorrow morning at first light will put a retardant line along Summit Rd.
It's "too early to say" when residents can return home, said Stackhouse (of Fire & Emergency).
"I'm very acutely aware of residents that have evacuated and their livestock needs."
6.28pm - The main fire is tracking up the hill towards Summit Rd. Embers from the main blaze have been in turn causing multiple smaller fires.
The flames are being fanned by gusty northwest winds.
6.25pm - The fire is not yet contained - meaning there is no fire line around the perimeter yet.
Fire and Emergency asked the public to be patient, go to the community centres and await further messaging.
6.22pm - No properties have been lost yet, however 5-6 properties are under "immediate threat", Stackhouse said.
Fire and Emergency, along with police, have evacuated those properties.
6.17pm - Dave Stackhouse of Fire and Emergency told reporters more than 130 firefighters and 12 helicopters were fighting the blaze.
"Our priority again, after ascertaining any further life risk is to anchor in Worsleys Rd and Summit Rd."
6:02pm - The fire comes amid scorching hot temperatures and high winds in Christchurch, with temperatures still 29C. Tomorrow is also expected to be dry and hot, with a high of 28C.
5:59pm - Click here to watch Newshub Live at 6pm, where we'll bring you the latest from near the scene of the blaze.
5:52pm - Metro, Christchurch's public transport operator, says multiple bus services are being impacted by the fire.
5:48pm - Banks Peninsula MP Vanessa Weenink is urging residents to take care and avoid the Port Hills area.
"Thanking Fire and Emergency NZ for all they are doing to fight another fire yet again on the Port Hills," she says on Facebook.
5:38pm - Here's what some evacuating residents told Newshub as they left the area:
"My daughter just came home and... burst into tears. She said, 'We're not going to evacuate again?'" one says.
"We were talking to the other residents and they're telling us they were shut out for 11 days last time," says another.
5:30pm - Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has released the below statement.
5:20pm - One resident told Newshub having to evacuate is "bloody painful".
"We've only just settled from the first fire," the resident says of the 2017 Port Hills blaze. "It's been years of rebuilding so hopefully what's happened in the Adventure Park this time is not the same ending as last time."
5:10pm - Fire and Emergency says further evacuations are now taking place on the Port Hills - in Early Valley.
"Summit Rd is closed between Dyers Pass Rd and Gebbies Pass Rd. Residents in that area need to be ready to evacuate at short notice," a 4:45pm update says.
"We urge the public to stay away from the area. Onlookers have caused some roads to be congested that may need to be used to evacuate residents.
"If you are near the fire and feel unsafe, but have not been told to evacuate, you may still self-evacuate, but please stay with family and friends if possible. Alternatively, dial 111 and state your location."
5:05pm - A second evacuation centre has been set up in the nearby town of Lincoln, at its community centre.
"Emergency services remain on scene near and in Cracroft, Port Hills where the fire continues to blaze," a police statement said.
"Cordons remain in place and roads surrounding the area are closed whilst Fire and Emergency crews respond to the blaze.
"Motorists are also advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes."
4:51pm - The NZ Herald reports Princess Margaret Hospital, at the bottom of the Port Hills, has been evacuated.
4:45pm - Fire and Emergency New Zealand says multiple structures are under threat.
"Te Whatu Ora National Public Health Service has issued a public health warning for smoke from the fire," FENZ says.
"Air around this location is smoky and there is potential that people who are sensitive to smoke - such as those with heart or lung conditions, people who are pregnant, young children and the elderly - may experience symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath or eye, nose and throat irritation.
"People affected by the smoke should close windows and doors and reduce outdoor exercise. Those concerned about their health can call Healthline on 0800 611 116."
4:30pm - Residents of the Port Hills near Worsley Spur have been sent an emergency mobile alert, advising them to immediately evacuate.
4:10pm - Emergency services have started evacuating people from properties near the Port Hills fire to Te Hapua Halswell Centre, people are also being advised to avoid the Worsleys Road area.
Roads in the surrounding area are closed as FENZ battles the blaze.
4:00pm A large fire has broken out in the Port Hills in Christchurch.
Fire and Emergency (FENZ) Canterbury says a vegetation fire was reported in the area of Worsleys Road, near Cracroft, about 2.15pm.
Ten helicopters and 15 trucks are fighting the fire and the public is urged to stay away and not fly drones, FENZ says.
