Christchurch fire: investigators at the scene of the Cass Bay fire

Fire investigators are at the site of a fire that swept 15 acres in Cass Bay yesterday.

Residents of 20 properties were evacuated during Tuesday’s huge fire, but were allowed to return home that night.

Three helicopters and four fire crews spent the afternoon working to contain the fire after being called around 1:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Cantabrians are being warned about fire risks in the region.

Assistant Area Commander Mike Bowden said the “high growth conditions” mean there is a strong fire risk throughout the region.

“We just need people to be extremely cautious. The weather conditions in Canterbury are such that they change by a penny. And we just need people to be really sensible.”

“It’s really important that we have people working alongside us to prevent fires from starting.”

As a precautionary measure, 20 properties were evacuated along the flank of the Corsair Bay fire on Tuesday, a Fenz spokesman said.

They said that no structure was threatened.

Lyttelton-Governors Bay Rd (Park Terrace), from Corsair to Rapaki, closed and reopened around 5.30pm.

The closure of the highway is to allow aerial firefighting operations, Fenz said.

“The fire has been surrounded and firefighters are currently working to put containment lines around it,” Fenz said.

Metservice issued a strong wind warning for Canterbury High Country on Tuesday, with northwesterly gales sweeping through the center of the South Island.

Firefighters also battled a fire in Lowburn that broke out around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Fenz’s spokesperson could not provide further details such as the location or how big it is.

Metservice forecaster Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said howling winds of 80 km / h were recorded at Christchurch airport.

The most exposed areas near the Banks Peninsula saw gusts that reached 93km / h, he said.

About 1,400 Cantabrians were without power on Tuesday due to strong winds.

An Orion spokeswoman said it managed to restore power to all the houses.