Fires

A pilot helping fight the big Marlborough fire walked away largely unscathed after ditching into the Wairau River while trying to fill his monsoon bucket. Audio

A forest fire in Marlborough is burning out of control tonight and crews intent on saving houses are now also facing another outbreak nearby. Audio

At the scene of the Hei Hei fire is our Christchurch reporter, Rachel Graham Audio

Kahli Hobbs' is 30 weeks pregnant and arrived home yesterday to find all of her possessions had gone up in smoke, including her father's five prized motorbikes. Audio

There have been one or two flare ups over night at the scene of yesterday's large scrub fire at Yaldhurst west of Christchurch Audio

Jeff Sewell is a local farmer he can see smoke, Steve Hill runs Hillsfield House bed and breakfast in Renwick. Audio

Farmers are fighting to save their homes, and those of neighbours, as 60 firefighters backed by helicopters and planes battle a blaze in Marlborough's Wairau Valley. Audio

Sixty firefighters backed by helicopters and planes are battling a fire that's threatening homes near Renwick in the Wairau Valley near Blenheim. Audio

A fire is being fought at North Bank in Marlbourgh which began at about 11:15 last night, with the fire service saying some people have been evacuated. Audio

30 to 40 homes have been evacuated in Christchurch in the face of a scrub fire that threatened two schools in Hei Hei. Audio

among those evacuated is the board chair of Gilberthorpe School Penny Osborne. Audio

Two major fires have forced evacuations of homes, schools and a nursery in Christchurch and rural Canterbury this afternoon. Audio

A Christchurch man had to rip open his plastic para pool during frantic efforts to hold off a large fire which came within two metres of the family home yesterday. The blaze, which took hold on the… Audio

Two swimming pools full of water have been crucial for people near Rolleston facing a big grass fire that at one stage closed State Highway One south of Christchurch. Audio

A Canterbury University researcher says a drone could have helped to prevent the spread of the Flockton Hill fire. Audio

Firefighters are using thermal imagery to identify hotspots and say they're pressing hard in the fight against the Flock Hill Station blaze near Arthur's Pass. Audio

Strong wind gusts and hot temperatures yesterday have set back fire fighting efforts against the Flock Hill Station blaze near Arthur's Pass. Audio

Firefighters are continuing to tackle the 3-hundred hectare fire at Flock Hill near Arthurs Pass and say it could take up to another five days to put it out. Audio

Strong gusts of wind and warmer temperatures are causing hotspots to reignite at the high country blaze near Arthur's Pass. Audio

Wind gusts have been reigniting hotspots in Arthur's Pass, slowing down ground crews moving in where aircraft have been battling the high country blaze. Audio