Crews battle suspicious scrub fires in Christchurch

Wednesday, 12 February 2020

Two firefighting helicopters used water from the Heathcote River to fight the fires.

Four fires that burned through six hectares of native reserve in Christchurch are believed to have been deliberately lit.

Emergency services were called to the fires off Tunnel Rd (State Highway 74) between Port Hills and Ferry Rds in Woolston, about 2.10pm on Wednesday.

A helicopter dumps water on scrub fires burning in Christchurch.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokeswoman Lyn Crosson said about eight crews had been sent to the blazes, while two firefighting helicopters attacked the fires from above.

Do you know more? Email reporters@press.co.nz

The fires closed Tunnel Rd shortly before 3pm.

Fenz spokesman Daniel Reilly said the fires were brought under control by 6pm.

**READ MORE:

The fires are being treated as suspicious.

* Three scrub fires in Canterbury out, two still ablaze in dangerous conditions

* Electrical fault causes fire at University of Canterbury engineering block lab

Fire crews were called to four separate scrub fires along the banks of the Heathcote River.

* Combine harvester and large paddock on fire near Waipara, North Canterbury**

Emergency services were called to the fires off Tunnel Rd in Woolston about 2.10pm on Wednesday.

The fires burned through about six hectares of native reserve, but were not believed to be threatening properties.

As of 7.30pm, one crew remained to make sure the fires were out and to monitor the area until nightfall.

They were being treated as suspicious and fire investigators and police would investigate, Reilly said.

A Christchurch Transport Operations Centre spokesman said Tunnel Rd was closed shortly before 3pm and reopened just before 6pm.

A police spokeswoman said residents had reported large plumes of smoke in the Woolston area.

According to MetService, Christchurch reached a high of 25 degrees Celsius with high clouds and northeasterly breezes on Wednesday. A southerly change was expected in the evening.

Since January 25, a prohibited fire season has been in place for Christchurch, Hurunui, Selwyn and Waimakariri districts.