Three choppers fight blaze

FIRE: Three helicopters are now fighting a major fire covering 1500 hectares at McLean’s Island.

FIRE: Three helicopters are now fighting a major fire covering 1500 hectares at McLean’s Island.

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LATEST: Firefighters are battling a blaze of between 100-150 hectares on McLeans Island, northwest of Christchurch.

The fire was the second in the area since last night, with Fire Service staff "very suspicious" about how it started, officer-in-charge Dave Burford said.

Three helicopters and five fire trucks were fighting the blaze, with more staff from the Rural Fire Service due at the scene soon, he said.

Fire service communications staff were told of the blaze about 11.30am today.

The fire was spreading through gorse and scrub, and while no buildings were under threat, it was coming close to large powerlines carrying electricity north, he said.

EXTREME CONDITIONS

The fire comes the day after the Department of Conservation issued a warning about extreme fire risk in Canterbury.

Orana Wildlife Park marketing manager Nathan Hawke said the centre was some distance from the fire but had been in touch with the Fire Brigade since the blaze began.

"Fire can travel quite a distance so we're relying on advice from the Fire Brigade. It all depends on the direction of the wind.''

So far he could not see any flames but could smell smoke.

Hawke said if the park was threatened animals could be moved into safe areas and sprinklers turned on.

- with NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News