Pines contain highly flammable resins and are known to add fuel to wildfires. Photo: Supplied / Fire and Emergency NZ
A Canterbury official says the Bridge Hill fire would be much worse without previous wilding pine control efforts.
The wildfire has burnt through 1000 hectares and its perimeter is in terrain too steep and rugged for firefighters to contain it.
The Canterbury regional council's Rich Langley said that previous spraying efforts had decreased the amount of fuel for the Bridge Hill fire, as although dead-standing trees did burn easily, a closed-canopy forest spread fire more quickly and ferociously.
"There's no doubt, I think, without the control work there would be an incredible amount more fuel there for this fire," he said.
The wildfire has burnt through 1000 hectares. Photo: SUPPLIED / FENZ
Langley said he wanted landowners to help control the wilding pines.
"We really encourage the community ... to recognise the threat that these trees pose in this situation, and we continue to work with the community to try and encourage them consider that when they're managing their trees", he said.
Some locals saw it as a positive that they would not have to pay to get rid of the pines that were burnt, but a wildfire was not cause to celebrate, Langley said.
The fire would affect the wilding pine control programme's operations, and an assessment would have to be made later, he said.
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