A fire has broken out in the Port Hills. Photo: Supplied / Sharleen Duncan
A vegetation fire burning on Christchurch's Port Hills has been contained.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said three fire crews and three helicopters were continuing to dampen down the fire, but it was now under control.
The helicopters were expected to land shortly and firefighters on the ground would be joined by two high-country brigades to help mop up the fire.
No buildings had been threatened by the fire, the spokesperson said.
Firefighters contained the fire about 2pm.
State Highway 76 was still closed between Port Hills Road and Chapmans Road, to allow firefighters to carry out their work.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area if possible, though alternative routes were available.
A video taken by witness Callum Templeton showed a helicopter using a monsoon bucket to dump water on the fire.
- Please email iwitness@radionz.co.nz if you have any images of the fire that you wish to share.
A view of the fire on 20 November 2023 from Port Hills Road. Helicopters circling and dumping water. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Graham
Angela Fitzgibbon from Avoca Valley earlier said the fire was quite near a property where she kept her horses, so she was evacuating them to another property just to be safe.
The weather is sunny and warm in Christchurch today with just a light breeze. It rained briefly in parts of Christchurch this morning. The Port Hills are relatively green at the moment after a moderately wet spring.
Angela Fitzgibbon has evacuated her horses, Bandy and Splash. Photo: RNZ / Rachel Graham
Meanwhile, Four fire trucks and two helicopters are battling a vegetation fire in Marlborough.
FENZ said crews were called to the blaze along State Highway 1 in the Riverlands at about 11am Monday.
A spokesperson said two areas of grass were on fire.
Smoke from the fire is visible from RNZ's central city office in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Anna Sargent
