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JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / Stuff
The bluffs of Mt Pleasant in Port Hills. (File photo).
Police and fire investigators are investigating a series of fires believed to have been deliberately started in Christchurch’s Port Hills.
Several crews were dispatched to extinguish four “small vegetation fires” scattered across Port Hills between midnight and 1 a.m. Wednesday, said Brent Dunn, a spokesman for Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz).
The fires ranged from 40 to 1200 square meters; a rugby field is usually about 8,400 square meters.
The city has experienced hot and dry conditions for the past week, with some strong nor’westers.
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During that time, only 2.4 millimeters of rain have fallen and the average maximum has been about 24 degrees Celsius, according to MetService.
Two fires broke out on Summit Rd near Mt Pleasant, one in Sugarloaf and the other near Governors Bay Rd.
Dunn said all the fires were of a “suspicious nature” and were put out shortly after their arrival.
Things understands that some vehicles were seen in the Summit Rd area around the time the fires broke out.
A team from Sumner remained in place near Summit Rd around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday to buffer critical points.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / Stuff
Two fires broke out on Summit Rd, near Mt Pleasant. (File photo)
A fire investigator was informed of the fires and investigations are ongoing, Dunn said.
He urged anyone who witnesses any suspicious activity or sees or smells smoke to call 111 immediately.
Lyttleton Fire Chief Mark Buckley said the high winds and warm conditions had initially made it difficult for the teams in attendance to fight the fires.
“The fires were not significantly large, but they were large enough to cause great concern.
“We were very lucky that the wind died down. If it was still churning it could have been a lot worse. “
He congratulated members of the public who saw the fires in their early stages and called emergency services.
A police spokeswoman said police were initially notified of the fires at around 12:25 am Wednesday, and that officers are assisting Fenz and making inquiries.
