Photo / Hamish ClarkFire investigators are working with police to discover how a big scrub fire in Christchurch's Port Hills started. At its height, 60 firefighters, a mix of fulltime and volunteers, worked to douse the blaze which forced evacuations from about 40 homes in Avoca Valley Rd, Port Hills Rd and Gliders Grove overnight. Port Hills Rd remains closed, however all residents that were evacuated are now able to return to their homes, police said. The fire started in the area of Alderson Ave, off the Port Hills Rd, close to the suburb of Hillsborough. "It's been a really good job and we've managed to protect all the structures along the Port Hills Road and the Avoca Valley.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 11, 2020 22:18 UTC