Waikari Valley fire evacuees can return home

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Residents evacuated after fire tore through vegetation in North Canterbury’s Waikari Valley have been given the all-clear to return home, fire bosses confirmed.

Anna Engelbrecht said “it’s been a relief” to find their house unscathed after an intense evacuation late Sunday, complicated by her husband’s rare neuromuscular disease.

In the span of 30 minutes, he could be unable to move or breath, Anna said, and stressful situations made things worse.

“For me it was: I need to get him out, I need to get him out.”

The pair fled their house with flames on the horizon after a change in wind direction put them in danger.

Many in the community got little sleep overnight Sunday, and some were forced from their properties by the the blaze, which broke out about 8pm and spread over 300 hectares.

Five helicopters and 80 ground crews of firefighters battled the fire on Monday, when it was fanned by high winds, and fire authorities warned it will not likely be fully extinguished for several days.

On Monday afternoon, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) assistant commander Des Irving said residents could now return home but implored them to “be vigilant” and encouraged them to use common sense in the dry and hot conditions.

He praised the way local residents had reacted to the blaze.

“They’ve been amazing, we’re really appreciative of the residents and their support.

“It is never easy to leave your home at short notice like these people had to do last night, but safety is always the priority.”

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but the source has been pinpointed, he said.

No livestock has been reported as lost, nor any structures lost or damaged.