Six helicopters to join firefighting efforts at Pukaki Downs
Photo: Bevan Rusbatch
Six helicopters will be operating at the Pukaki Downs fire this morning.
A Fire and Emergency spokesman said firefighting operations have remained limited overnight due to weather conditions, but will ramp up as soon as dawn breaks.
Photo: Bevan Rusbatch
The first helicopter flight will be a reconnaissance mission to establish the size and condition of the fire. From there, further resources will be able to be deployed.
Two ground crews helped monitor the blaze during the night. More ground crews are arriving this morning.
Pukaki fire as seen from Man Made Hill, (taken through a zoom lens) Photo: Daniel Hunter
Six properties were evacuated overnight as a precaution.
Police assisted with some of the evacuations, while some residents chose to self-evacuate.
Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Paul Tinsley said Mount Cook Road/State Highway 80 closed overnight between the Alpine Lavender Farm and the intersection with State Highway 8.
A Command Point was established at this intersection.
Photo taken from an apartment in Twizel. Situation is serious. Large scrub fire in Pukaki Downs area. People are asked to self-evacuate if they feel unsafe. Photo: Andy Smyt.
Crews are continuing to undertake reconnaissance of the fire and monitor its progress through the night, but active firefighting remains too dangerous due to the high winds in the area.
Twizel resident Scott Aronsen said the wind has moved around to a westerly from the previous northerly direction and was pushing the fire front east.
“Pretty much the same path as the last fire. The fire front is spread over probably about a km and appears to be behaving in a similar fashion to the last with some big flare ups and then it dies back down again however it is big fire.”
No further evacuations have occurred since the six properties on Mount Cook Road/State Highway 80 were either evacuated with the assistance of police or self-evacuated on Wednesday night.
No further evacuations are currently planned.
