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Eleven helicopters and nine ground crews will continue to fight the Lake Ōhau fire on Monday, and winds are forecast to start blowing around 10 a.m.
The fire started early Sunday and has so far damaged or destroyed 20 houses in Lake Ōhau village, with residents still unable to return.
An urban search and rescue team has been deployed and a better assessment of the damage in the village was expected around noon on Monday.
The team flew a drone over the fire-impacted areas at 2 am Monday and identified “a significant number of hotspots,” Fire and Emergency NZ confirmed. Those areas would be attacked Monday morning.
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Four crews worked to protect the property overnight. Two teams were protecting what was left in Lake Ōhau village, while the other two were in the Quailburn area.
“Crews had a very busy night as wind speeds increased, dealing with hot spots and outbreaks,” said New Zealand Fire and Emergency Incident Commander Steve Jones.
CHARLIE O’MANNIN / Things
Damage to Lake Ōhau village after fire.
MetService spokeswoman Melissa Oosterwijk said gusts in the area overnight reached between 60 and 65 km / h and there was no rain.
MetService has issued a strong wind warning for Canterbury High Country from 10 am on Monday to 9 am on Tuesday, and the northwest gales are expected to reach 120 km / h in the morning and reach 130 km / h in the afternoon.
Temperatures in Ōhau were expected to be around 20 ° C on Monday, he said. At 6.40am, nearby Lake Pukaki was already at 16 ° C.
Civil Defense Minister Peeni Henare will spend Monday in Ōhau.
‘The weeds have created hell’
A farmer near Lake Ōhau warns that the Scots pine problems in the South Island and the Mackenzie Basin must be solved before people die.
Andrew Turton / Supplied
Lake Ōhau fire burns at 4.10 am.
Glenbrook owner Simon Williamson, who had debris fell on his property from the nearby fire, said he had received reports from people passing the fire area that the cattle had died or were “burned and scorched.”
“We won’t know [how many stock have been lost] until people can return to the area, “Williamson said.
He believed that the abundance of Scots pines in the area had fueled the fire, as did the Lake Pukaki fire about a month ago and “four or five” other fires occurring right now around New Zealand.
“At some point, there will be a massive loss of life,” he said.
“It is happening in places that are not being grazed. It is mostly Conservation Department land or places where the city council makes any development impossible.”
Nikki Adams / Supplied
The fire near Lake Ōhau on Sunday morning.
“The weed has created a hell.”
Williamson said the Scots pine situation was “frustrating.”
“Why aren’t they working with the people who run this land?
“Farmers are trying to take care of the land, but we are fighting a green crowd that does not want livestock.”
‘Monster Orange Maelstrom’
A bed and breakfast business on Lake Oahu confirmed in a Facebook post Monday that they lost their home.
Stuff
The devastation of the village of Lake Ōhau
The Barn at Killin said the family running the business was safe and being cared for by friends.
“Our home, our business and a lifetime of memories are gone apart from the clothes we wear,” the post read.
“The dream escapes me and I cannot shake the taste of smoke from my mouth or close my eyes without seeing a monstrous orange maelstrom roaring towards us.”
The post thanked friends, the community, and guests around the world for their messages of support.
CHARLIE O’MANNIN / Things
A damaged lakefront property on Lake Ōhau.
“Our thoughts are with our brave people who will fight the fire for the next few days.”
‘Still very active’
As of late Sunday, 11 helicopters and seven ground crews were still fighting the blaze, which was described shortly before 6 p.m. as “still very active” by Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Graeme Still.
It still flew over the fire site on Sunday afternoon and it is estimated that at least 20 houses have been damaged or destroyed in the village.
Bejon Haswell / Stuff
11 helicopters will be in the sky Monday, fighting the blaze.
“The scene on the ground was not pretty.
“It was like a war zone to be honest in the village.”
All residents were accounted for, but were unable to return to the village on Sunday to assess the damage due to high winds, Still said.
“I am well aware of how annoying this is to residents. Their safety is our primary concern at this time.”
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