Kirwee fire: Firefighters contain large Canterbury forest blaze

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

A large forest fire at Kirwee has been contained with no loss of buildings or livestock.

People evacuated are now being allowed to return home.

The 80-hectare forest and scrub fire prompted police to evacuate ten properties on Old West Coast Road, and people from several others left voluntarily.

Fire and Emergency hoped to open all roads in the area and allow residents home from midday.

Incident Controller Dave Berry said seven helicopters and eight ground crews, supported by heavy machinery, were mopping up the fire.

Berry said a total fire ban was in place for Canterbury as the fire risk remains high throughout the region.

"Just be sensible and don't do anything that's likely to cause fires, i.e mowing lawns that's going have sparks or anything like that and just be very, very careful out there."

Berry said firefighters will remain in the area overnight.

On Sunday night, police evacuated 10 homes and Selwyn District Council opened an evacuation centre in the Kirwee Community Hall.

Old West Coast Road resident Derek Anson was among those who stayed at the Kirwee Community Hall last night.

"I was woken by a neighbour about 11.30am and was told to pack a bag and get out, which I basically did."

Ross Smith, left, and Derek Anson, right, spent the night at the evacuation centre at Kirwee Community Hall. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock

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.

Earlier, FENZ Incident controller Graham Knight told Morning Report firefighters would be hampered by the weather, with strong northwest winds and temperatures topping 30 degrees expected to contribute to increased fire activity.

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

FENZ asked that Cantabrians take great care with any activities that could cause any sparks and start another fire.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation, Knight 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

Dozens of social media users across Christchurch had 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.