Port Hills fire - Feb 14

[Cantab03]

Port Hills on fire again, helicopters going over! Was a matter of time!

[Bradley]

It's kicked off big time in the last half hour here

[Storm Struck]

Yes that fire has really gone up quick, around Cracroft area above Westmorland.
They have 5 helicopters in the air now taking water from the lakes at Hallswell quarry.
Wind is still a fresh NE in town but the temperature is steadily climbing to 26C now, so the strong NW isn't too far away.
Thoughts go out to the amazing crews fighting this fire right now.
Another chopper just flew over so that's 6 on the fire front.

20240214_154445.jpg

[darcyplumb]

Thinking of everyone affected by the fire on the Port Hills. My partner was a FENZ volunteer firefighter involved with the last fire up there 7 years ago. It’s not a nice feeling watching this unfold again.

[Storm Struck]

Seems to be a lot of power outages across the city even in Lincoln. I did notice in the initial photos of the fire there was pylons very close in the area.
An evacuation centre has been set up down the road at the Hallswell library.
Just thinking we might need to start a new topic for this in off topic?
Also I hope Razor is ok, had a feeling he lives fairly close.

[carrot]

https://www.summitroadsociety.org.nz/ab ... ls-webcam/ this webcam has a view of the fire

[Nev]

Just thinking we might need to start a new topic for this in off topic?

Done! Will leave this new topic in the NZ Weather section for now?

[darcyplumb]

Thanks for the new topic! Summit Road between Dyers Pass Road and Gebbies Pass Road now closed and residents have been told to get ready to evacuate.

[Cantab03]

Turned northwest now and up to 30 so more challenges about to hit with the wind change!

[darcyplumb]

Early Valley being evacuated

[Storm Struck]

The plumes of smoke are much bigger now, almost looks like there's an eruption occurring.
The NW is going to shift the fire uphill, so they need to be thinking of those on the Govenors bay side for evacuation too.

[darcyplumb]

I would like to think they push go on a state of emergency much quicker than they did last time… they’re going to need as many ground crews as possible after dark for structure protection.

[Orion]

42sec. video from Chris Lynch Media:

[darcyplumb]

Norwest winds cranking here now. Helicopters will be grounded within the hour. A long night ahead for all involved.

[Storm Struck]

A very long night for sure, had to nip out to get some things and there are at least 14 separate fires burning.
Three of them looked quite big, perhaps from closer photos are burning tall pine plantations.
There are now also a number of fires on the Governors Bay side spreading fast.

20240214_212908.jpg

[Storm Struck]

The fires have continued to burn overnight within two main areas, one seems to be more around the Christchurch Adventure park.
So more of those pine plantations and isolated stubble piles.
Also on the other side but above Governors Bay.

Several helicopters are already airborne and two fixed wing aircraft will drop retardant lines today.
Having all of this in mind I would suggest making sure to spread the word I think it goes without saying really, to make sure nobody ventures into the port hills over the next few days.
This includes the Parks and reserves, Victoria etc.
Last thing the emergency services need is more public to save if more fires spread.

The strong NW looks to pick up around midday, hopefully giving our FENZ crews enough time to get a good hold on the fire.
The SW change is due through around 10pm, unfortunately a dry change but hopefully again will be under control by then.
Otherwise this wind shift could pose more of a threat to the hill suburbs.

This is not a message to scare but to bring public awareness and preparedness, we all know how extremely dry it is out there.

Hats off to those fighting in difficult terrain and conditions today.

[Orion]

...Hats off to those fighting in difficult terrain and conditions today.

^ especially this

[Mirage]

I haven't followed the wind direction so much before.
We are at the foot of the hills, and watching tonight for that Southerly change if the fire isn't under control we might be evacuating too.
I remember 7 years ago with the fire then and the helicopter pilot who lost his life fighting it. So its such an odd feeling watching them now outside our lounge windows.
The only way we slept last night was knowing Metservice had said the winds wouldn't change (and even ease for a while), and the police were stationed down our street (having cordoned it off). I feel for those that have evacuated!
Everyone is working so hard to contain the fire and keep public safe!

[Razor]

Seems to be a lot of power outages across the city even in Lincoln. I did notice in the initial photos of the fire there was pylons very close in the area.
An evacuation centre has been set up down the road at the Hallswell library.
Just thinking we might need to start a new topic for this in off topic?
Also I hope Razor is ok, had a feeling he lives fairly close.

Thanks mate we are in Halswell these days, smoke filled house this morning but well away from the action, unlike last time when we lived in Cracroft and the fire was literally accross the road that time.

I am deeply worried for Governors Bay this afternoon, fire has now crossed the Summit Road

Link to my pics so far here: <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.p ... &width=500" width="500" height="684" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>

[darcyplumb]

Latest update. As Razor mentioned, the fire has crossed Summit Road and that seems to be an area of great concern at the moment.

[Cantab03]

Not good conditions now. 28 degrees, climbing but the northwest has kicked in gusting 40kmh at ground level and more higher up!

[Razor]

Someone has put a livestream together on the socials. Looking up the Adventure Park. Seems like they might be getting on top of things?
https://www.facebook.com/ryan.burnett.5 ... 0038988370

[Cantab03]

Yes looking way better! Which is lucky given the wind is now strong and blustery.

[Storm Struck]

The fire retardant aircraft especially ZKmot water bomber ( yellow aircraft ) has been doing regular trips all morning between the fire and the airport.
These are helping quite a bit on the fire and putting in breaker lines to prevent the spread.

It's starting to look under control which is great news, however the fire on the other side is still quite big.
I also understand that Hallswell quarry park and Victoria park are closed to the public. Personally I believe if there is a local state of emergency for Banks Peninsula they need to close all reserves and parks until it is safe enough.

Good news is on Tuesday there looks to be a decent scattering of showers for the region.

[Razor]

Personally I believe if there is a local state of emergency for Banks Peninsula they need to close all reserves and parks until it is safe enough.

That would IMHO be a serious case of overkill, akin to closing all the streets in town because of an accident at one area