Cause of Happy Valley blaze unknown

  • Breaking
  • 21/02/2013

The Fire Service says it is still unsure of the cause of a large scrub fire that forced homes to be evacuated in Wellington early today.

The blaze tore through scrub at Owhiro Bay in Happy Valley and although light rain is forecast tonight, firefighters say it could be days before the danger of a flare-up is over.

Residents woke to the sound and smell of a scrub fire threatening their homes and around 40 were forced to flee as firefighters tackled the fast approaching flames.

“Just before two I heard banging on the door and my neighbours screaming,” says local resident Michelle Carlile-Alkhouri.

Evacuees were moved to a nearby school and the fire was contained by mid-morning, but firefighters still struggled with hotspots - wind gusts fanning flames into life.

The long, hot summer left gorse and scrub tinder dry in the hills nears the city's main tip.

About eight square kilometres of scrub's been destroyed and firefighters had to climb rough terrain to douse the fire.

With a southerly wind change expected to strengthen later in the day, firefighters had just a few hours to douse the smouldering hills.

Firefighters expect to be remain in the area until the weekend hosing down the scrub to prevent flare-ups.

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source: newshub archive