A major highway just north of Kaikōura has reopened as fire crews work to extinguish a large scrub fire from both the ground and the air. The fire, burning on a patch of hillside off State Highway 1 about 60 kilometres north of Kaikōura near Wharanui Beach Rd, broke out about 1.55am on Wednesday, Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman Simon Lyford said. Large plumes of smoke had reportedly spread from the fire to the nearby state highway and railway line, initially triggering closures of both, he said. scott hammond/stuff The charred remains where a scrub fire burnt across a hillside off State Highway 1 about 60km north of Kaikōura on Wednesday morning. A KiwiRail spokeswoman said the Main North Line had been closed between Kēkerengū and Wharanui while fire crews battle the blaze.

Source: Stuff July 06, 2021 19:36 UTC