UPDATED: Huge fire breaks out west of Christchurch
A large fire threatens property west of Christchurch. VIDEO.
A large fire threatens property west of Christchurch. VIDEO.
UPDATED 4:46pm: Police cordons have been set up about 3km west of Christchurch at Yaldhurst.
Fire crews are also fighting fires inland at Cust, and north of the city at Kaiapoi.
There are reports of houses going up in flames, 100 households evacuated, and power pylons destroyed along the more than 1km front of the fire.
An office worker in Blenheim Rd near Hornby told NBR ONLINE the neighbourhood became wreathed in smoke and then dust for a period.
She couldn’t see anything out the window and the smell of smoke invaded the office.
It gradually cleared and she hoped this was because the fire was coming under control.
Traffic was heavy with long delays likely in places closer to the fire.
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EARLIER: Fires have broken out on the west of Christchurch as Canterbury bakes under a sweltering nor’wester.
A school and homes have been evacuated and 1200 properties are without power.
Office workers based near the west of the city have told NBR of a strong smell of smoke entering their buildings about an hour ago.
There have been unconfirmed reports of houses threatened by the flames near Pound Rd, Hornby.
Scroll down for a video clip that shows the extent of the blaze.
c.hutch@clear.net.nz