Waipara man Carlos Earle said he was relieved to return to home on Monday. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
Residents of north Canterbury's Waipara township - evacuated due to a wildfire - are breathing a sigh of relief as they returned home on Monday.
But given the parched conditions throughout the region, there are fears that a repeat could be just around the corner.
Firefighters have contained the 300ha vegetation fire at Waikari Valley which broke out on Sunday night, forcing the evacuations of nearby rural properties.
Anxious locals were briefed by Fire and Emergency (FENZ) officials Monday afternoon, where displaced community members were given the all clear to return home.
The efforts of FENZ - already under the pump courtesy of the Port Hills fire further south - were met with gratitude and applause during Monday's community briefing in Waipara.
"You've had a massive workload, it's unbelievable," Hurunui district mayor Marie Black told incident controller Des Irving.
"I'm really grateful for you guys coming in and supporting us."
Moments earlier, Irving had informed the community they could return to their homes - less than 24 hours after being told to leave.
About 10 people spent the night in the Waipara Memorial Hall, while others slept in caravans outside.
Waipara farmer Tony Knowles hears he can head home. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
Waipara farmer Tony Knowles said he was grateful he could return home after enduring a sleepless night.
"Great to be able to go home and put your feet up and just relax," he said.
"I slept in the truck because there were young families here (Waipara Memorial Hall) with mattresses and things.
"I had a couple of dogs on the back of the truck.
"I didn't get much sleep because the dogs were wriggling and they rocked the truck and when they weren't rocking the truck the bloody northwest wind was."
Following the community briefing, locals wasted no time settling back in to their properties down Glenmark Drive.
Waipara farmer Mark Sidey said he feared that he may “lose everything” after being told to evacuate on Sunday. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
Less than 24 hours beforehand, local farmer Mark Sidey feared the worst after evacuating.
"Total fear of losing everything," he said.
"With the way the wind was blowing and where we could see the fire was, and the fuel we had in front of it coming towards our property.
"Somehow they've stopped it getting into the forest at the back and that's what's saved most of the district I would've thought."
Sidey said although he is pleased to be home, he remained on high alert and "ready to bolt" at a moment's notice.
"A fire could start anytime round here at the moment," he said.
"We've been very vigilant around the farm with motorbikes and working in the heat of the day...anything could happen."
A similar sense of respite was shared further down the road by Carlos Earle.
After staying with family in Amberley, he said he was relieved to be back home.
"It was a pretty good feeling being able to come home again and sleep in your own bed.
"It was a bit concerning with how long the Port Hills has been going on, thought it might be a few days but they seemed to have done a good job containing it so far."