Another fire ‘spreading quickly’ in Canterbury

Saturday, 20 January 2024

Firefighters dampen down hot spots at a privately-owned church building, which used to be St Andrews Presbyterian Church on Loburn Whiterock Rd. The church was completely destroyed in the fire.

Two homes and a privately-owned church have been destroyed by fire in Loburn, while another vegetation fire that “spread quickly” is now contained in Swannanoa.

While firefighters are still dampening hotspots in Loburn, crews in Swannanoa along with four helicopters responded to a vegetation fire reported in the bed of the Waimakariri River at Diversion road.

The fire was reported at 2.50pm, on the north side of the riverbed, and spread quickly, Fire and Emergency assistant commander Brian Keown said.

Tankers and fire trucks from local brigades including Kaiapoi, Swannanoa, West Melton, Pine Beach and Spencerville are there.

Forty firefighters, supported by four helicopters, managed to contain the fire burning in and around the riverbed.

Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Des Irving said the fire was deep-seated in scrub and forestry and firefighters were facing challenging conditions.

A fire investigation has begun, and firefighting will continue through the night and into tomorrow.

The full extent of the fireground is still being mapped but it’s estimated to be burning an area roughly five hectares, Irving said.

Smoke can be seen in North Canterbury from Huntsbury hill on Saturday afternoon.

People are asked to stay away from the area.

There was still concern wind and high temperatures in Canterbury could cause further flare ups in Loburn on Saturday.

Loburn Whiterock Rd residents Olivia and George Gooderham were some of the lucky ones that escaped with minimal damage to their property.

George Gooderham went outside to see the hedge at the front of their property was ablaze and started getting buckets of water for the fire that was moving closer to his home on the dry grass.

Incident controller Colin Russell and mayor Dan Gordon at a media briefing in Rangiora after homes burn down in Loburn.

“It was just trying to stop the spread of the fire as much as we could,” he said.

The afternoon and evening was a “bit of blur” but he remembered looking over the road to the neighbouring property that was destroyed in the fire and was grateful there home was further back from the hedges.

The couple did not have to be evacuated on Friday night but it was a “long night” of keeping an eye on things and using sprinklers to keep hot spots at bay.

Mayor Dan Gordon said a welfare centre was opened last night for residents affected by the fires in Loburn.

“There were people who came out who lost their properties, like the church. They put a lot of time and effort into restoring that church.

Helicopters work over a scrub fire at Loburn, near Rangiora in North Canterbury.

“Our priority is to work alongside FENZ [Fire and Emergency NZ] and all the amazing work there’re doing. Our heart goes out to all those who are affected. It’s obviously very distressing for them but our community is right behind them.”

Firefighters are continuing to work to extinguish two separate, large vegetation fires in North Canterbury that forced evacuations and destroyed homes and properties yesterday.

Temperatures that soared to 34C in Christchurch on Friday as nor’ west winds howled over the plains fuelled the fires, which forced evacuations of homes in Amberley and Loburn on Friday afternoon.

Police block the road leading into Loburn while emergency services battle a scrub fire at Loburn, near Rangiora in North Canterbury. (Photos from Friday.)

Overnight on Friday approximately 17 firefighters at Loburn monitored and dampened down hotspots in the 10- hectare area along Loburn Whiterock Rd.

FENZ were carrying out a detailed assessment of damage to properties this morning. The roads around the Loburn fires remained closed while about 30 fresh firefighters and six staff, supported by heavy machinery, worked to fully extinguish the blazes. Helicopters will be brought in if needed.

This photo shows a dozer driver clearing dangerous trees from the Amberley fireground on Jan 19, 2024.

Incident controller Colin Russell said crew were working to get residents who were evacuated back into their homes today. They were working with Main Power to isolate power poles and damaged lines.

They hope to get the power on and get residents back into their homes as soon as possible.

Russell could not comment on how the fires might have started but an investigation was under way.

He asked people to restrict hot works or anything that could generate a spark.

Fire and Emergency and council’s welfare staff are at the Baptist Church and a meeting for Loburn fire evacuees and other affected residents was held at the Council Chambers (215 High St, Rangiora) at 11am.

Meanwhile, another fire at Amberley is contained and controlled and evacuated residents are allowed to go home, however FENZ says it will take several days to fully extinguish the fire. Overnight about 17 firefighters worked to monitor and dampen down hotspots.

Today six crews supported by heavy machinery are continuing the work on hotspots and flareups. One helicopter is on standby.Cordons remain in place and people are asked to stay well away from the area to let our crews focus on their work.

Canterbury residents are reminded to take extreme care with all activities that could cause a spark that will set vegetation on fire, with winds forecast to get stronger and hotter temperatures today. All fire permits have been suspended until 8am on Monday.