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Firefighters are fighting a large bush fire in Christchurch, with several properties evacuated.
Emergency services were called to the fire, in Port Hills above Hillsborough, shortly after 11 p.m. Friday night.
Fire and Emergency NZ said nearly a dozen crews were working to contain the fire just before 1 a.m. Saturday.
Several properties on Avoca Valley Rd and Port Hills Rd had been evacuated.
Meg Falconer / Supplied
Fire and Emergency NZ is asking the public to stay away from the area.
“We ask the public to stay clear of the area while firefighters work to contain the fire,” FENZ said in a Facebook post.
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Police were assisting FENZ with responding to the fire, and more evacuations are likely to take place.
Anyone feeling worried or unsafe was advised to self-evacuate, police said.
There were road closures at the intersection of Curries Rd and SH 76.
Christchurch woman Liz Ridder said her husband heard explosions, “like fireworks,” and looked out the window to see a fire on a hill near a water tank on Friday night.
“The fire was already quite big when he saw it, and now it is moving both up and down the hill,” he said Friday night.
MITCHELL POTTS / Supplied
One witness heard popping sounds “like fireworks.”
“There have been some loud explosions.
“We are glad there is no wind tonight.”
Another witness said Stuff the fire seemed to get bigger on Friday night.
