7 Feb 2024

Canterbury on high-alert after fires

From Morning Report, 7:26 am on 7 February 2024

Canterbury is on alert after two vegetation fires in the past few days. Up to 60 firefighters tackled a fire near Waipara in the Hurunui District late Tuesday.

Fire and emergency says 15 brigades and two helicopters fought the blaze on both sides of State Highway One.

It was hard on the heels of a large fire in Kirwee which burnt through 80-hectares of forest and scrub.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand assistant commander in Canterbury, David Berry, says the region is very dry and is high-risk.

Berry spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.