Port Hills fire with smoke over Lyttelton Harbour from Cass Bay. Photo: RNZ/Monique Steele
People in Christchurch's Port Hills are being evacuated because of a large fire and are nervously watching the blaze spread.
Thick, black smoke has been billowing into the air since the blaze broke out in the area of Worsleys Road, near Cracroft, about 2.15pm.
Ten helicopters and 15 trucks are fighting the fire and the public is urged to stay away and not fly drones, FENZ says.
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See photos of the fire as they come in below:
The Port Hills fire, as seen from Sparks Road on 14 February 2024. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
The Port Hills fire, as seen from Sparks Road on 14 February 2024. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
The fire as seen from Hornby at 5.55pm on 14 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / Des Smith
Helicopters swoop in to fight the blaze, as seen from Worsleys Road. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
Helicopters fill their monsoon buckets to fight the blaze n the Port Hills. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
The Port Hills fire as seen from Mt Vernon on 14 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / Alex Harmer
Smoke from the Port Hills fire seen from Colombo Street on 14 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / Bridget Edward
Smoke from the Port Hills fire as seen at Rāpaki Bay on 14 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / Kate Preston
The Port Hills fire see from Westmorland at about 3.45pm on 14 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / John Pickering
Smoke can be seen from the evacuation centre that has been set up at Halswell Library and Community Centre. Photo: RNZ / Anna Sargent
The Port Hills fire see from Westmorland at about 3.45pm on 14 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / John Pickering
Helicopters are filling monsoon buckets at the Cashmere Wetlands off McVicars Road, loading up to fight the fire on the Port Hills on 14 February 2024. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
The Port Hills fire on 14 February 2024 as seen from Okinetahi Gardens, Governors Bay. Photo: Supplied / Stephen Gibbard
The Port Hills fire on 14 February 2024 as seen from Southshore in Christchurch. Photo: Supplied / Katrina Lajunen
The Port Hills fire on 14 February 2024 as seen from Cracroft. Photo: Supplied / Chelle Brouwer
A view of the Port Hills fire on 14 February 2024 from Halswell. Photo: Supplied / Cate Goode
Flames leap into the sky during the blaze on the Port Hills in Christchurch on 14 February 2024. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
A view of the Port Hills fire on 14 February 2024 at about 3.30pm. Photo: Supplied / Kate Simon
The Port Hills fire on 14 February 2024 as seen from Rutherford Street in the suburb of Woolston at about 3.30pm. Photo: Supplied / Eddie Hayes
Fire in the Port Hills on 14 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / Matthew Keegan
Flames are visible in the Port Hills. Photo: Supplied
Fire seen on Port Hills in Christchurch on 14 February, 2024. Photo: Supplied / Moya Carrothers
Fire in the Port Hills on 14 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / Baily Lelieveld
Port Hills fire seen from Sparks Road, Christchurch, on 14 February, 2024. Photo: RNZ / Maree Mahony
The fire seen from outside Halswell Quarry. Photo: RNZ / Maree Mahony
Fire in the Port Hills on 14 February 2024. Photo: Supplied / Andrew Turpin
The Port Hills fire as seen from Westmoreland in Christchurch. Photo: Supplied / Hamish Allan-Caney