Port Hills once again struck by wildfire

Port Hills. Source: Mark/Nz Raw.

On February 14, seven years and one day after the destructive 2017 Port Hills wildfires began, another wildfire started burning in the Port Hills. 

Throughout Valentine’s Day afternoon, smoke was visible across Ōtautahi Christchurch.

39,000 properties in east Christchurch lost power. RNZ reported that this was due to the fire, “burning under the high voltage power lines that connect Ashburton and Christchurch.”

Orion general manager Steve Macdonald said, “We’ve got backup plans, and we were able to enact those and have our customers restored within 25 minutes.” 

Evacuation centres were set up at the Lincoln Community Centre and the Halswell Library and Community Centre. 

Four hours after the fire started, a state of emergency was declared. 

Student radio station RDU lost their Marley’s Hill transmission tower in the blaze. A backup transmitter allowed broadcasts to continue. 

RDU announced on Instagram, “This is obviously not an ideal situation for a business that broadcasts, but this is not RDU’s first hurdle!” 

The University of Canterbury released an “update for students” on February 15. The update recommended the Student Care service “if you need to talk,” and Te Whare Hauora UC Health Centre. 

The update also stated that the Herea tō Waka Welcome Day, set for February 16, would “proceed as planned.” No UC events were disrupted by the fire. 

The Christchurch Adventure Park had incurred damage. Their website was updated to direct visitors to their ‘Park Status’ page, which advised people to stay away from the park to allow emergency services to continue working. 

The damage to the park is not as significant as the damage incurred in the 2017 Port Hills wildfires, which left the park shut for ten months. 

Chairperson Maurice Noone said, “The outcome is considerably different to the fires of 2017 and will likely see the park fully re-open with all current attractions within the next few months.” 

UC lecturer Dr Andres Valencia told The Press, “I think it is important to at least start the discussion about what we should do in order to mitigate, or reduce the consequences of, wildfires.” 

After one week, the state of emergency was lifted. Stuff reported on February 24 that the blaze “engulfed 650 hectares.” 

No injuries or deaths have been reported. 

As of February 25, the cause of the fire remains unknown.