New Zealand / Canterbury

Close watch kept on hot spots in Port Hills

07:11 am on 13 December 2020

Firefighters are continuing to dampen down hot spots on the Port Hills in Christchurch following a large scrub fire.

Firefighters examine the scene where a fire started in the Port Hills on Friday night. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young

The blaze has now been contained but around 40 properties were evacuated when it broke out above Hillsborough on Friday night.

Fire and Emergency says one crew carried out perimeter patrols as well as watching hot spots overnight.

Four crews will be on site this morning to carry out more perimeter patrols and to continue dampening hot spots.

The fire has destroyed around 25 to 30 hectares of land.

Fire investigators and police are also working to establish the cause of the fire.

Area Commander for Fire and Emergency Dave Stackhouse told a media briefing yesterday that fire investigators had identified some "good positive leads" and some "areas of interest."

They had established where the blaze started which was near a reservoir.

At the height of the fire 15 appliances and 60 firefighters - a mix of fulltime and volunteers crews - were deployed. Two helicopters using monsoon buckets were also used.

Photo: RNZ / Conan Young