Police evacuate homes in West Melton, Canterbury as blaze throws out 'balls of fire'

Thursday, 1 February 2018

Homes were evacuated and two people taken to hospital after a major fire in West Melton, Canterbury.

Authorities evacuated about 10 homes as firefighters battled the blaze in Thursday's searing heat and windy conditions.

One person was taken to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition to be treated for smoke inhalation, a St John spokesman said. Another person sustained minor injuries.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) were first called to a hedge fire on Weedons Ross Rd about 3.10pm – just as crews were dealing with a wild fire at Cass Bay, near Christchurch.

The blaze spread towards homes in a block of the Preston Downs subdivision before fire crews and helicopters with monsoon buckets brought it under control about 6pm. 

The temperature in Christchurch on Thursday reached 34.5C and winds had been blowing up to 63kmh, according to MetService.

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Selwyn District Council Civil Defence controller Douglas Marshall told a group of residents the fire was 'contained, controlled, but there's still hotspots'.

Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman Riwai Grace said firefighters were dampening hot spots just before 9pm.

'They were accessing one house with some diggers just to clear some of the vegetation around it [as a precaution],' he said.

Emergency services evacuated about 10 households between Iris Taylor Ave, Jacks Dr, Weedons Ross Rd and Halkett Rd. An evacuation centre was set up at the West Melton Community Centre.

Orion was restoring power to people's homes and they would be able to return to them once that was completed, Marshall said.

'BALLS OF FIRE'

West Melton resident Peter Fry described 'balls of fire' after going to inspect the source of smoke drifting over he reserve.

'I just saw these trees erupt and I knew it wasn't going to be very good.'

Ben Helps and Ryan Croy said they saw 'embers pouring over' properties, igniting smaller fires in their yards.

'We were just keeping an eye on the neighbours … and that's when this place exploded, pretty much.'

They said there were 'instantly big clouds of smoke' in the area. 

Police set up cordons in the area. 

'Do not approach,' police said. 

'The heat and wind are genuine risks so please if you see any power lines down or poles blown over near grass call 111.'

Civil Defence staff said they evacuated the residents because of concerns about ash, but expected them to return to their homes on Thursday evening. 

One house was in danger – helicopters dropped monsoon buckets of water on it –  but there were no reports of homes being destroyed. 

CHOPPERS AT CASS BAY FIRE

Meanwhile, five fire crews and two helicopters battled a wildfire in a pine tree plantation about 500 metres above Governors Bay Rd, near Cass Bay.

Cass Bay resident Mike Deacon said he could see two helicopters working 'in relays' from his home.

He anticipated the 'spiralling' wind would complicate the firefighting effort.

'Mainly you get an easterly or a nor'westerly but this one [on Thursday] is whipping around the harbour.'

The fire got within a few hundred metres of homes, but monsoon buckets drove the fire away from the houses over the top of the ridge and appeared to get it under control by the tree line.

A FENZ spokesman said the firefighters were 'comfortable with where we're at' in terms of containing the Cass Bay fire. No structures were at risk, he said.

By 8.45pm on Thursday the last rural fire truck was about to leave the scene, Grace said.

ROLLESTON BUILDING GOES UP IN FLAMES

FENZ dealt with several smaller fires in Selwyn and north of Christchurch.

On Thursday morning, a blaze severely damaged a commercial building at machinery supplier Diggalink, at the Rolleston end of Weedons Ross Rd. 

The fire broke out about 10.30am. Smoke could be seen billowing from the structure. The fire was contained by 11.30am.

'People are urged to remain vigilant and be extremely careful,' the FENZ spokesman said.

'Avoid any activities that may accidentally cause a fire, including operating machinery, carelessly discarding cigarettes or parking hot vehicles on dry grass.'