170224 CHRIS SKELTON / POOL Firefighters continue their efforts on Saturday as they work to dampen down remaining hot spots and create a buffer zone around the 24km perimeter fire ground in Christchurch's Port Hills. Pictured Stephen Robson (Peel Forest Volunteer firefighter) Photo: CHRIS SKELTON
The fire risk in Christchurch's Port Hills will remain high over the next few days, firefighters dampening down the blaze are warning.
Multiple crews have been in the area ever since the fire ignited on 14 February, engulfing 650 hectares.
Most of the remaining hotspots were extinguished on Thursday and a drone crew continued thermal-imaging flights to detect further hotspots overnight.
However, Fire and Emergency's incident commander Des Irving said if the fire flared up again, it would spread quickly.
It was important to remember there was a total fire ban in Canterbury north of the Rakaia River, he said.
Meanwhile, crews had been stood down from the Waikari Valley fire site in North Canterbury and the land handed back to the owners.
