[ad_1]
Supplied
Six people were airlifted from the area and a DOC cabin was damaged.
A fire has been contained that spread across 400 hectares in rural South Marlborough.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) said firefighters had made good progress on the blaze, which was reported on the Department of Conservation ground at 6:10 p.m. Wednesday.
It occurred near the Goose Flat Hut, about 30 kilometers inland from Clarence, in the Ka Whata Tu or Rakihouia Conservation Park, between the Inland Kaikōura Ranges and the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges.
Nine helicopter crews battled the fire at its peak. The helicopter crews had left Thursday night.
READ MORE:
* Two fires burn across 1800ha in Otago
* Traveling after the Kaikōura earthquake: what it is like three years later
* Helicopter crews fighting a fire near Omarama back in the air after being punished by a drone report
Firefighters would return Friday morning to monitor and clean up. An infrared camera would fly over the area Saturday morning to check for hot spots.
Six people had to be evacuated from the Clarence Valley area Thursday night and a DOC cabin on Goose Flat was damaged.
A Fenz spokeswoman previously said there was no road access to the site, so the fire trucks that initially responded were returned and helicopters were dispatched instead.
Communication reception on the site was poor, so few details about the fire were initially available.
No homes in the area were at risk, the spokeswoman said.
The cause of the fire was unclear and an investigator would be on the scene Friday morning.
All of Marlborough was in a no-fire season from 8 a.m. Wednesday, which means there was a total ban on outdoor fires and all previously issued fire permits were no longer valid.
Kaikōura remained in a restricted fire season for the time being, meaning permits were required for all outdoor fires.
Chief Rural Fire Officer Chris Hayles said the fire danger was “very high” given the recent hot and dry weather.
“The fires will start and spread out of control very easily.”
He urged people to avoid any activities that could produce sparks in dry areas, such as welding and grinding metal, fireworks, and using lawn mowers.
Marlborough Helicopters dispatched two helicopters to assist Wednesday night.
A spokeswoman said the pilots spent the night at a nearby farm and flew again Thursday morning.
