Canterbury fires extinguished after high temps, wild winds strike
Sunday, 21 June 2026
Multiple wildfires broke out across Canterbury on Saturday amid strong winds and record June heat in Christchurch, with eight fires that still active in the evening before firefighters brought them under control.
Most were vegetation fires but one was “substantial”, involving a farm shed and the adjoining trees on Selwyn Rd near Rolleston.
The other fires included a hedge fires in Gebbies Valley and Emu Plain, a forestry fire at Hawarden, an escaped burnoff at Mt Culverden, tree fires in Ward (Marlborough) and the Inland Kaikoura Rd (Hurunui) and a burn pile fire in Waipara.
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By nightfall, rain had begun to bring relief in some areas, FENZ said.
In a 9pm update, FENZ said all fires were “largely under control…with winds easing and rain assisting firefighters in many areas”.
By morning, all fires were extinguished with overnight rain helping with containment efforts, FENZ said.
Assistant district commander Brian Keown said Canterbury was “extremely dry” for this time of year.
FENZ urged anyone who had lit an outdoor fire in the last week to check it was completely out.
Farmers or lifestyle block owners thinking about land management fires should always refer to www.checkitsalright.nz and be mindful of the weather forecast before lighting any new fires.
Water restrictions
Residents in Hawarden and Waikari were asked to stop all non-essential water use on Saturday.
“To help maintain water supplies for fire-fighting activities and essential use, residents are asked to stop all non-essential water use immediately,” the Hurunui District Council said.
According to the council website, level four water restrictions are activated when there is a “critical risk” to water supply.
“Water may only be used for domestic purposes such as drinking and washing and to provide drinking water for stock.
“There is a complete ban on all watering systems, including hand held… It is prohibited to wash cars or fill pools”.
Weather warnings
Earlier on Saturday, FENZ warned people not to light fires as strong winds lashed Canterbury.
“Do not light a fire today,” a post on social media said.
An orange wind warning was in place for the Canterbury High Country and plains, including Christchurch City and Banks Peninsula, but has since expired.
Christchurch also set a June weather record on Saturday, with a high of 24.7C smashing the record for the warmest June day, which was 22.5C in 1988.
“It goes without saying really that today is not a good day to light a fire and if you have had a fire in the past week you really should be checking on it to make sure it is fully extinguished before the winds reignite it,” FENZ said.
“Please be safe out there, winds like this can be extremely destructive.”