Natural Disasters

Fire crews working to extinguish huge Canterbury blaze

17:35 pm on 5 February 2024

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Fire crews in Canterbury will be working throughout the night to monitor and extinguish a huge blaze that's burnt through 80-hectares of forest and scrub in Kirwee.

The fire, which broke out near the Waimakariri River late last night, is contained and controlled, with no loss of buildings or livestock.

Some residents were evacuated as a precaution, but they have been given the all-clear to return home.

Anna Sargent reports.