Eight helicopters battling fires burning out of control near Hanmer Springs S,I, N.Z.
kiwijims said
02:48 PM Mar 1, 2017
The flames, which are on the Lewis Pass side of the Hanmer Springs turn-off, are burning within a 30-kilometre radius. No homes are thought to be in danger.
Fire Service southern shift manager Andrew Norris said eight engines with at least 35 firefighters were at the scene.
"We've got no indication of size at the moment, but it's burning pine plantation and scrub", he said.
Flames can be seen along the side of State Highway 7. The road has since been closed to motorists.
Truck diver Brian Ohara said hundreds of motorists had been turned around at the road closure.
"I'm sitting here in Culverden and you can see the smoke blowing over the hills. You can see it for miles; it's looking pretty big."
Warm conditions were not helping firefighting efforts and the area has been plagued by drought.
"There's a bit of a breeze and [the fire] is getting fanned along by the wind," McRae said.
Lochiel Station owner Hamish McRae said the fire had jumped the road and onto his property.
The fire very close to Amrita Bell's car. "We just made it through," she said.
K.J.
The Belmont Bear said
08:15 PM Mar 1, 2017
We have visited Hamner Springs a number of times it's not really a place that I would have associated with bush fires - I hope that they are OK.
kiwijims said
08:06 PM Mar 2, 2017
The Belmont Bear wrote:
We have visited Hamner Springs a number of times it's not really a place that I would have associated with bush fires - I hope that they are OK.
Yes, I gotta agree with you B.B. Hamner can be a beautiful place in the middle of Winter, with the snow down,
Nothing in this world like taking a soak in the hot springs with snow falling on your head, very invigorating.
Unfortunately at the present, they are in the middle of a drought and the snow grass is as dry as a wheat field at the end of summer,
But good news from the Firies in N.Z...............
The fire near Hanmer Springs is under control, but firefighters are still working to dampen hotspots.
The scrub fire covered 60 hectares and closed the main route from Christchurch to Picton yesterday.
It burned along both sides of State Highway 7 between Culverden and Hanmer Springs.
Fire crews were under pressure to "lock down" the large scrub fire before north-westerly winds hit the area tomorrow.
Southern district shift manager Andrew Norris said 25 firefighters remained at the scene.
SH7 was open with a reduced speed of 30km/h around the affected area.
K.J.
macka17 said
11:23 PM Mar 3, 2017
If the greenies and do gooders grew a little brain and shut up.
There could be more "burn offs" with the grasses much shorter. Controlled with the fire trucks.
And a lot of these blazes wouldn't happen.
Let every owner do his own. with aid from EFS or equiv. When HIS needed it.
Go up the Territory and watch the Blacks doing their burn offs.
smoky. but never have problems, usually.
We used to watch them every yr. as they have done for thousands of yrs.
Keeps grass down. gives fresh food for lots (incl themselves)
With lots of nitrogen and carbon back into ground.
Let's hope it all sorted.
With any firebugs dropped in centre front of, with no shoes.
The flames, which are on the Lewis Pass side of the Hanmer Springs turn-off, are burning within a 30-kilometre radius. No homes are thought to be in danger.
Fire Service southern shift manager Andrew Norris said eight engines with at least 35 firefighters were at the scene.
"We've got no indication of size at the moment, but it's burning pine plantation and scrub", he said.
Flames can be seen along the side of State Highway 7. The road has since been closed to motorists.
Truck diver Brian Ohara said hundreds of motorists had been turned around at the road closure.
"I'm sitting here in Culverden and you can see the smoke blowing over the hills. You can see it for miles; it's looking pretty big."
Warm conditions were not helping firefighting efforts and the area has been plagued by drought.
"There's a bit of a breeze and [the fire] is getting fanned along by the wind," McRae said.
Lochiel Station owner Hamish McRae said the fire had jumped the road and onto his property.
The fire very close to Amrita Bell's car. "We just made it through," she said.
K.J.
Yes, I gotta agree with you B.B. Hamner can be a beautiful place in the middle of Winter, with the snow down,
Nothing in this world like taking a soak in the hot springs with snow falling on your head, very invigorating.
Unfortunately at the present, they are in the middle of a drought and the snow grass is as dry as a wheat field at the end of summer,
But good news from the Firies in N.Z...............
The fire near Hanmer Springs is under control, but firefighters are still working to dampen hotspots.
The scrub fire covered 60 hectares and closed the main route from Christchurch to Picton yesterday.
It burned along both sides of State Highway 7 between Culverden and Hanmer Springs.
Fire crews were under pressure to "lock down" the large scrub fire before north-westerly winds hit the area tomorrow.
Southern district shift manager Andrew Norris said 25 firefighters remained at the scene.
SH7 was open with a reduced speed of 30km/h around the affected area.
K.J.
There could be more "burn offs" with the grasses much shorter. Controlled with the fire trucks.
And a lot of these blazes wouldn't happen.
Let every owner do his own. with aid from EFS or equiv. When HIS needed it.
Go up the Territory and watch the Blacks doing their burn offs.
smoky. but never have problems, usually.
We used to watch them every yr. as they have done for thousands of yrs.
Keeps grass down. gives fresh food for lots (incl themselves)
With lots of nitrogen and carbon back into ground.
Let's hope it all sorted.
With any firebugs dropped in centre front of, with no shoes.