Port Hills Fire Public Update – 11.50am
Port Hills Fire Public Update – Sunday 26
February
Media Update –
11.50am
Fire prevention
tips
We’ve had a few enquiries from residents
about how they can reduce the risk of fire on their
properties.
The National Rural Fire Authority has some great tips on how to assess hazards in
your home and garden and prevent and prepare for
fire.
More detailed information is also available in the
Firesmart Home
Owner’s Manual.
Water
Conservation
There has been heavy demand on the
water supply network as a result of the firefighting
response and some damage to water pipes in the
area.
We’re asking people in the Port Hills area to
conserve water as much as possible over the next week while
water levels in the reservoirs are restored.
Fire
crews
A total of 25 fire crews, with around 150
firefighters, are continuing firefighting operations. New
crews are operating over the weekend as others are rested.
Crews have come from West Coast, Otago, Nelson, Rotorua,
Southland, Taranaki, Auckland, Kaipara and Palmerston North
to join their Canterbury
counterparts.
Cordons
• We
are getting a lot of queries about when Dyers Pass Road will
reopen to the public. We are constantly reviewing the
cordons, in particularly Dyers Pass Road as we recognise the
significance of this road as key arterial route. We will
update you if the cordon situation changes.
•
At this stage three hard cordons remain on Dyers Pass Road.
One is at the bottom where it meets Governors Bay Road,
however residents who live on the section up to the hairpin
bend about halfway up to the Sign of the Kiwi are permitted
access to their properties. Dyers Pass Road is closed from
this hairpin bend to the entrance of Victoria Park due to
the fire risk and safety issues, preparations are underway
to have the road open as soon as possible, after the risk
mitigation work is completed.
• While cordons
at Worsleys Road, Kennedys Bush Road, Hoon Hay Valley Road
and Dyers Pass Road have been relaxed, this is for residents
only. There is still no access for members of the
public.
We are reminding people to resist the temptation
to come and have a look around the area, this includes
mountain bikers and runners. The area remains an operational
fire zone with cordons still in
place.