Port Hills fire: ‘We’re not out of the woods yet’
The Port Hills fire has burned across 630 hectares and spread inside the Christchurch Adventure Park’s boundaries overnight.
Eighty households were evacuated, the city’s mayor said, but Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said no structures had been lost “thanks to the great efforts of our crews”.
The main fire was around Summit Rd. Firefighters had successfully put a fire break in around Worsleys Spur to Dyers Pass Rd, Mosby said.
Fenz was aware northwesterly winds were forecast to build from about lunchtime, so the focus on Thursday was to “hit the fire hard with the resources we have already“.
The fire broke out about 2.15pm on Wednesday - the anniversary of the devastating 2017 fire - and a local state of emergency remains in place.
Fenz said 80 firefighters were on the ground on Thursday, while in the air were 15 helicopters with monsoon buckets and two fixed wing aircraft focused on retardant drops.
A community meeting would be held for affected residents at Te Hāpua Halswell Centre at 11am.
Also on Thursday morning, two helicopters had been diverted to a vegetation fire burning through scrub in the View Hill area of North Canterbury, to would help six crews “who are mopping up, focusing on areas of unsafe terrain”, Fenz said.
A grass fire also threatened structures near Rolleston in Selwyn just before 9am on Thursday. Four Fenz trucks and one tanker responded and it was contained within an hour.
An evacuation centre had been set up at Halswell Library and Community Centre, and a second at the Lincoln community centre for people closer to Selwyn.
A community meeting would be held for affected residents at Te Hāpua Halswell Centre at 11am.
Late Wednesday, Fenz asked for help from the public as an investigation into the cause of the fire began.
Anyone with photographs or videos of the Port Hills taken between 1.45pm and 2.45pm (30 minutes before the fire was reported to 30 minutes after) Wednesday were asked to email them to PortHills2024Photos@fireandemergency.nz with their name and contact details, when the photo or footage was taken and where the photographer was.
Poll: Have you ever been bullied?
People associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.
This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. People across the globe are now encouraged to wear pink on this day to take a stand against bullying and promote inclusivity.
Have you or your whānau ever experienced bullying? Share your thoughts on Pink Shirt Day below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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79.8% Yes
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19.8% No
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0.4% Other - I'll share below
Five Autumn gardening ideas
Hello there!
I love Autumn... The cooler temperatures and changing colours make for a lovely peaceful environment.
If you're looking for inspiration for things to do in the garden at this beautiful time of year, I've put together a list 5 things you could consider. So grab your gloves and let's get started!
1. Harvest fruits and vegetables: Autumn is the time to harvest your crops, such as apples, pears, plums etc. Make sure to pick them before the first frost and store them in a cool, dry place.
2. Plant bulbs for spring: Autumn is the perfect time to plant bulbs like daffodils and tulips, which will produce beautiful blooms in the spring.
3.Clean out garden beds: Before winter sets in, clear out any spent annuals, weeds, and other debris from garden beds. You can also consider adding compost or other organic matter to enrich the soil for next season.
4. Plant autumn flowers: While the weather is cooler, it's a great time to plant autumn flowers such as pansies, chrysanthemums, and asters. These will add some colour to your garden and thrive in the cooler temperatures.
5. Rake up fallen leaves: As the trees begin to shed their leaves, it's important to keep them off the lawn and other areas where they can smother plants or become a slipping hazard.
Give me a call if we can help - 0223 76 79 78
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