Residents evacuated as firefighters battle forest fire near Kirwee

Roadblocks are in place and people have been asked to stay away. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock

Canterbury firefighters were sending seven aircraft and eight ground crews to tackle a large forest fire burning near Kirwee.

Police evacuated nine homes on Sunday night on Old West Coast Road, between Courtney and Calders Road, and Selwyn District Council opened an evacuation centre in the Kirwee Community Hall.

The blaze broke out near the Waimakariri River shortly before 10pm, and within a few hours FENZ estimated that it was 2.5km long and 500m wide.

High winds caused the fire to spread quickly, with crews from four brigades working in challenging conditions.

FENZ Incident controller Graham Knight told Morning Report on Monday morning the fire was not contained, had spread overnight and covered 80 hectares.

An evacuation centre has been opened at Kirwee Community Hall after homes were evacuated by a forest fire. Photo: RNZ / NIVA CHITTOCK

Seven aircraft with monsoon buckets would join efforts to put out the blaze at first light, supported by eight ground crews.

The firefighters would be hampered by the weather, he said, with strong northwest winds and temperatures topping 30 degrees expected to contribute to increased fire activity.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation, he added.

The strong smell of smoke across Christchurch is most likely from the large fire in Kirwee. Check out this photo sent in by Amanda Rudkin. See the flames in the background. pic.twitter.com/e8IVNX8l3p

— Chris Lynch (@chrislynchmedia) February 4, 2024

FENZ would be updating residents at a meeting at 11am in the Kirwee Community Hall.

In the meantime, roadblocks remain in place and people have been asked to stay away so that firefighters, trucks and machinery can operate safely. A ban on flying drones anywhere near the fireground is also in place.

Dozens of social media users across Christchurch have reported waking to a strong smell of smoke overnight.

Last month, two separate fires broke out near Kirwee within a week of each other, threatening homes.

Fire and Emergency has warned high and extreme fire danger was expected for Central Otago, the Mackenzie Basin, South Canterbury's high country, Canterbury, Marlborough, Wairarapa, Northland and Auckland this week as a warm air mass from Australia was expected to pass over the country, bringing very warm temperatures and gusty winds.