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Fire progress
The Fire Service is pleased to announce that good progress has been made in controlling
the fire in the Worselys Road area.
Patrols will continue in the area, but crews will no longer be actively working in the area
unless called in for a flare up.
Residents are asked … View moreFire progress
The Fire Service is pleased to announce that good progress has been made in controlling
the fire in the Worselys Road area.
Patrols will continue in the area, but crews will no longer be actively working in the area
unless called in for a flare up.
Residents are asked to help by being vigilant and to DIAL 111 IMMEDIATELY IF THEY SEE
ANY SIGN OF THE FIRE REIGNITING.
“Our crews have made great progress and we’re pleased to be able to pull back from the
Worsleys area, but we really need people to keep a watch on things for us,’’ said Fire
Service Liaison Officer Bruce Irvine. “The more eyes we have out there looking the better.”
Fire services are continuing operations in other areas affected by the fire.
Rubbish collections
Christchurch City Council has organised rubbish collection of all Council waste bins in fire
affected areas tomorrow afternoon from 12pm to 5pm. Wheelie bin collection will take place
in:
- Worsleys Road
-
Kennedys Bush Road
-
Hoon Hay Valley Road
-
Early Valley Road
-
Dyers Pass Road on the Governors Bay side.
All waste will be treated as rubbish. There is no need to separate recycling and organics.
Additional rubbish skips will be placed in Worsleys Road, outside numbers 323, 338 (2
skips) 351 and 353.
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Worsleys Road non-resident landowner access
The Worlseys Road cordon was lifted for residents at 9am this morning (Wednesday). All non-residents, including those who own land within the cordon area but live elsewhere, need to obtain an access permit from the Princess Margaret Hospital car park,… View moreWorsleys Road non-resident landowner access
The Worlseys Road cordon was lifted for residents at 9am this morning (Wednesday). All non-residents, including those who own land within the cordon area but live elsewhere, need to obtain an access permit from the Princess Margaret Hospital car park, in Cashmere. The same applies to insurance representatives, tradespeople and other professional services needing access. Residents and landowners need to meet these visitors at the hospital. Access by the general public is restricted at this time until further notice.
No-fly zone over fire area
Christchurch City Council’s Principal Rural Fire Officer Darrin Woods strongly emphasises that a strict no-fly zone remains in place for the area bound by Princess Margaret Hospital, Sugarloaf, Teddington and Tai Tapu until midday Friday 24 February. Fire services are currently operating drones in the area to gather important thermal and infrared hotspot information. Members of the public are not allowed to operate drones or other remotely piloted aircraft systems at any time in the no-fly zone, and police will be notified about any breaches of this rule. Flying drones in this area illegally will be taken very seriously, as it compromises critical aerial firefighting operations and safety.
Accessing properties with burnt trees
Civil Defence strongly recommends that people who have regained access to their properties with burnt trees do not go near the trees until they have been inspected by an experienced arborist. This is for their own safety.
Damage to septic tanks
Residents whose properties were directly affected by the fire should engage a qualified plumber to check the condition of their septic tanks.
Worsleys Road cordon to be lifted at 9am
At 9am today, the Worsleys Road cordon will be lifted up to 353 Worsleys Road, where Worsleys Track begins. The cordon will open for residents only, allowing them to return home.
There remains a small number of properties located on Dyers Pass and … View moreWorsleys Road cordon to be lifted at 9am
At 9am today, the Worsleys Road cordon will be lifted up to 353 Worsleys Road, where Worsleys Track begins. The cordon will open for residents only, allowing them to return home.
There remains a small number of properties located on Dyers Pass and Summit roads that are cordoned off due to ongoing fire risk and other safety concerns. Civil Defence Welfare staff will be contacting these residents directly.
Worsleys Road residents will be checked into the cordon by police and must present a photo ID, such as a driver’s licence or passport.
Registration for non-residents (e.g. insurance representatives, electricians and/or trades people) wishing to access the Worsleys Road cordon is open from 7.30am to 6.30pm each day, until further notice, in the Princess Margaret Hospital car park, Cashmere. All cordoned residents, including Worsleys Road residents, are required to meet these visitors there. Access to cordoned areas by the general public is restricted at this time until further notice.
Fire damage to trees
Residents whose properties were directly affected by the fire should engage a qualified arborist to check all mature trees. The Council’s arborists have been checking trees on roadsides and many are being felled because of fire damage.
Worsleys Road cordon to open
Based on the latest fire assessment information, Civil Defence Controller Gary Foster is pleased to confirm that the Worsleys Road cordon will be lifted tomorrow (Wednesday) up to 353 Worsleys Road, where Worsleys Track begins. The cordon will open for residents … View moreWorsleys Road cordon to open
Based on the latest fire assessment information, Civil Defence Controller Gary Foster is pleased to confirm that the Worsleys Road cordon will be lifted tomorrow (Wednesday) up to 353 Worsleys Road, where Worsleys Track begins. The cordon will open for residents only from 9am, allowing them to return home.
There remains a small number of properties located on Dyers Pass and Summit roads that are cordoned off due to ongoing fire risk and other safety concerns.
Worsleys Road residents will be checked into the cordon by police and must present a photo ID, such as a driver’s licence or passport.
Registration for non-residents (e.g. insurance representatives, electricians and/or tradespeople) wishing to access the Worsleys Road cordon is open until 6.30pm in the Princess Margaret Hospital car park, in Cashmere. Worsleys Road residents are required to meet these visitors there. Access by the general public is restricted at this time until further notice.
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Fire overview
Fire crews continued patrolling the fire scene last night, focusing on dampening down hotspots at Christchurch Adventure Park. Crew are also focusing on hotspots in the Early Valley Road, Hoon Hay Valley Road and Worsleys Spur area with a 40-50% reduction in fire activity from … View moreFire overview
Fire crews continued patrolling the fire scene last night, focusing on dampening down hotspots at Christchurch Adventure Park. Crew are also focusing on hotspots in the Early Valley Road, Hoon Hay Valley Road and Worsleys Spur area with a 40-50% reduction in fire activity from yesterday. Work to target hotspots will continue today across the entire fire ground.
Aerial drones may be trialled this evening by emergency services over the fire ground areas around the Worsleys Road area and other locations as needed. The drones will not be overhead inhabited properties (for safety reasons). The drones are being trialled to gather thermal and infrared hotspot imaging information.
A reminder to the public that the no fly zone introduced previously remains in place for the area bound by Princess Margaret Hospital, Sugarloaf, Teddington, and Tai Tapu until midday Friday 24 February.
Around 20 crews are continuing to work to install control lines using heavy machinery with support by helicopters.
Cordon locations continue to be reviewed based on updated fire risk information and ground assessments.
Work also continues to remove dangerous trees at risk of falling due to fire damage, to improve safety for access and operations.
There remains a risk that changing weather conditions could cause hot spots to flare up and fire to spread so residents who have been able to return to their properties should be prepared to evacuate immediately.
Smoke
Cantabrians should be aware smoke may cover many parts of the region for the next 48-72 hours. Thickness of the smoke will depend on the number of hot spots within the fire-zone.
Smoke modelling indicates that on Wednesday wind conditions may direct smoke over much of the Christchurch CDB and Christchurch Airport in the evening and may remain over these locations on Wednesday night and Thursday. Fire suppression work may generate smoke and dust at times.
Canterbury DHB is reminding people to phone their GP team first if they experience any respiratory issues or concerns.
State of Emergency extended
The State of Emergency covering Christchurch City and Selwyn District has been extended, Mayor Lianne Dalziel announced today. Mayor Dalziel and Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton took advice from Rural Fire, Fire, Police and Civil Defence in making the decision. Read the full announcement here
Port Hills Fire – update
11.45am
Power Supply
Orion reports that around 22 customers remain without power in the Port Hills. These outages are focused around Hoon Hay Valley Road, Burkes Bush, Marleys Hill and Worsleys Road.
Most customers now have power services available to them. Orion … View morePort Hills Fire – update
11.45am
Power Supply
Orion reports that around 22 customers remain without power in the Port Hills. These outages are focused around Hoon Hay Valley Road, Burkes Bush, Marleys Hill and Worsleys Road.
Most customers now have power services available to them. Orion advises that customers need to have their homes checked by an electrician and certified as safe so the power can be turned back on.
If you need to bring an electrician to your property while the cordon remains in place they will need to go to the cordon and speak with Police in the first instance.
Smoke
Due to suppression operations and thermal scan observations there is potential for smoke to be visible from the following areas:
- Christchurch Adventure Park
- The top of Early Valley Road, and
- South of Early Valley Road towards Holmeswood Rise.
If we have strong winds dust may be generated across the city from ash. Follow CDHB for health information regarding the smoke.
Hi guys,
I'll try and get these through for you as and when they arrive in the newsroom - then you're getting the information straight from the source. If you need anything more, or have anything you think we should be following up, please feel free to get in touch. Kia kaha.
… View moreHi guys,
I'll try and get these through for you as and when they arrive in the newsroom - then you're getting the information straight from the source. If you need anything more, or have anything you think we should be following up, please feel free to get in touch. Kia kaha.
Cordon access
Cordon access at Kennedys Bush Road and Hoon Hay Valley Road is for residents only. There is no access for the general public at this point in time. The cordons will remain controlled and residents must present photo ID (drivers licence or passport) at the cordon point. Access for residents is for reoccupation of their homes. Residents need to be aware that the fire is still active so they need to be prepared to evacuate their homes at short notice if the situation changes.
We will update changes to the cordons for the public in future updates.
Please note this means there is no access to the recreational areas, including the tracks, off Kennedys Bush Road.
Fire response
Fire crews are continuing to work in the Port Hills today.
Geotechnical assessments
Geotechnical engineers are continuing site assessments in the Port Hills today, focusing on areas in and around Victoria Park and Dyers Pass Road. Engineers are identifying hazards and carrying out rock and slope stabilisation to make the area safe.
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I have a large tramp to give away, 2 years old and generally in great condition, pads a little worn and one stanchion needs rebolting. . Springs and safety net are all good.
Must pick up
Reminder:
There will be no change to kerbside collection tomorrow, Tuesday 20th February, apart from streets that are cordoned off. Further updates can be found here:
Christchurch Civil Defence Update. Sunday 19 February 2017 Update on Port Hills 9:30pm
The Fire Incident Controller says the Port Hills fire is now under control.
“We’ve got the fire under control, but we’ve yet to get a full stranglehold on it,’’ said Incident Controller Richard … View moreChristchurch Civil Defence Update. Sunday 19 February 2017 Update on Port Hills 9:30pm
The Fire Incident Controller says the Port Hills fire is now under control.
“We’ve got the fire under control, but we’ve yet to get a full stranglehold on it,’’ said Incident Controller Richard McNamara. “There’s still a lot of heat in the fire, and a 30-kilometre perimeter to manage.”
He said there was more heavy machinery work to do on containment lines around the fire perimeter and more retardant drops were needed. “That will give us a secure fence between the fire and residential property,” Mr McNamara said. “We need to finish it off now. Having control lines in place is vital.”
He said the weather “was on our side today, with a north easterly and cool temperatures. But there are going to be challenges with the forecast weather conditions.”
“Anything is possible with fire.”
Wind, temperatures and terrain all had an effect on fires, he said.
“We’ve got some very steep slopes, and fire intensity doubles for every 10 degrees of slope – we’re looking at 30 degree slopes, which means the fires are six times the intensity they would be on the flat.”
Mr McNamara said that given the drier conditions forecast, they would be monitoring the threat of flare ups for at least another week. We’ll have 100 to 150 firefighters working on the fire in the coming week. They would be using 10 to 12 aircraft as well as diggers, bulldozers and tankers.
“We could get flare ups in areas like Dyers Pass, where there are forestry areas nearby that could fuel a fire,” Mr McNamara said. “We’re paying particular attention to that area.”
Cloud cover today meant fixed-wing aircraft could not get airborne this morning, and with the cloud cover returning mid-afternoon, the planes had to be stood down again.
Manager National Rural Fire Authority, Tim Mitchell, said thermal imaging was showing hotspots of 300 to 400 degrees celsius. “We’re using the information we get from the cameras to bolster containment lines,” Mr Mitchell said.
Fire Regional Manager Steve Turek said protecting houses was a priority. “We have crews on the ground,” he said. “If there are flare ups, they’ll be there to deal with them."
"We’ve got plenty of resources. We’ve had crews from as far south as Dunedin and Invercargill and as far north as Palmerston North helping us, and they can be called back any time we need them. The guys are very weary, but they’ve got a great spirit – they’re feeling like we’re over the hump. But we all know we cannot be complacent, especially with the weather we’ve got predicted.”
Lead pilot and Chairman NZ Agricultural Aviation Association, Alan Beck said the level of professionalism shown by the pilots fighting the fire from the air had been “really high”.
“Conditions have been extremely bad, with severe downdrafts to deal with. They’ve done a really professional job.’’
The blackened areas the fire had been through were giving the public something of a false impression, he said. “People look at everything blackened, with no smoke, and they think it’s all over – it’s not,” Mr Beck said. “This is one of the most dangerous fires I’ve worked on in my 45 years of flying.”
Mr Beck said pilots had not had time to stop and grieve for their colleague, pilot Steve Askin, who died when his helicopter crashed on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s his funeral tomorrow – we’ll try to get to it, but we know his family will understand if we’re needed on the job.”
Cordons
Rural Fire Liaison Officer Darrin Woods said the risk of vegetation igniting would be reassessed tomorrow morning. “At this stage, it’s unlikely that further restricted access will be allowed beyond the cordons on Kennedys Bush Road, Hoon Hay Valley Road, and Worsleys Road on Monday,” Mr Woods said. “This is due to the identification of areas of significant residual heat on uncontained fire edges in these locations.”
Current scope of the fire
· The Port Hills fire now covers an area of 2075 hectares.
· The main firefighting effort is taking place in the area above Dyers Pass Road below the Sign of the Kiwi and into Victoria Park, in and around Sugar Loaf, the area around Marleys Hill and the along the southern flank of the fire, where there is still a risk of it escaping out into unburnt fuel.
· The number of confirmed destroyed structures is 11 houses and 2 large sheds.
· The perimeter is about 35km.
A reminder that the Port Hills fire and surrounding zones remain off limits to everyone, including recreational users.
There have been examples of people trying to enter the zone to explore on bikes or on foot. Not only are they putting themselves at risk, but they taking the focus away from first responders who are still dealing with fire suppression activities. The wider area needs to remain clear because if there is a wind change, the fire can quickly spread. Firefighters need to respond quickly and do not want to waste valuable time evacuating members of the public.
The areas between the Rapaki Track and Gebbies Pass are completely off limits because of the unstable environment and the continuing fire operations. Public safety remains paramount.
Total fire ban remains in place
A total fire ban remains in place for the Canterbury region. This was put in place by the National Rural Fire Authority last Thursday to free up resources for the firefighting effort on the Port Hills. As firefighting resources are so stretched, there is limited capacity to respond to any other events.
The Port Hills firefighting effort has required a national multi-agency approach. Everyone involved is focused on doing anything possible to control the fire, remove threat and protect people’s lives and homes.
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