Port Hills Fire Media Update
Saturday 25 February – 10.30am
Fire update
No significant incidents or flare-ups were reported overnight.

Infra-red and thermal imaging drones are being used during the night and early mornings to check hot-spots. Darrin Woods, Principal Rural Fire Officer says, “I can’t understate the value of this technology. Drone footage and the thermal maps enable fire crews to directly target the hot-spots in areas that have been scanned.”

Twenty crews will continue to work today on strengthening the fire containment lines with heavy machinery, supported by helicopters and ground operations.

Dangerous trees will continue to be removed throughout the day.

A State of Emergency is still in place over both Christchurch and Selwyn and will remain in place as long as necessary.

Cordons

The cordons at Worsleys Road, Kennedys Bush Road and Hoon Hay Valley Road, have been relaxed for residents only. There is still no access for members of the public. Rural fire has deemed that this is still an operational fire area and as such public safety remains a priority and access must remain restricted.

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.

Walking and cycling tracks

A reminder that Rapaki, Mt Vernon Shared Use and Mt Vernon Farm tracks have reopened. However, a number of tracks remain closed. Visit the Council’s Parks web page for more information.

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