Kaikōura fires close SH1 overnight, requires Marlborough crews, delays Weekly

Due to State Highway 1 being closed overnight to assist with firefighting efforts across Kaikōura District and due to fallen trees, the Marlborough Weekly has been delayed this week.

Waka Kotahi confirmed State Highway 1 was open at 8.40am this morning., with the delivery truck is due to arrive tonight, with deliveries taking place throughout Thursday.

Read this week's Weekly online at Marlborough App.

Firefighters were called from across Marlborough to assist with fires across Kaikōura, Hapuku and Clarence which 14 buildings, including five houses, and caused evacuations throughout yesterday, alongside Kaikōura, North Canterbury and Nelson crews.

Crews from Flaxbourne, Blenheim, Blenheim Rural, Blenheim, Awatere, Waihopai, Northbank, Rarangi, and Koromiko were called to battle structure fires in Clarence.

Due to local crews being called further south, Blenheim Rural, Hira, Tasman, and Canvastown crews were called to a vegetation fire in Ward just before 6pm.

Winds are expected to pick up later in the day again to 60km/h gusts which could fan the flames as happened yesterday, and national firefighting representatives say hot, windy weather this week along the country's east coast could pose the same risk.

Kaikōura firefighters on the ground confirmed with RNZ this morning that eleven firefighting crews are continuing to work on the multiple fire sites in the Kaikōura area this morning, supported by two helicopters.

Local firefighters will make a full assessment today, to confirm the extent of the areas that have been affected, with a fire investigation team has begun work to establish the origin and cause and meetings with the affected homeowners this morning.

"We've got a lull in the weather today that's allowing us to fly our helicopters and extinguish that fire," said FENZ assistant national commander Ken Cooper.

"Certainly the conditions were very arduous yesterday, severe gale force winds with high temperatures, and that resulted in a number of fires.

"The challenges we've got are, there are a number of fires that have been lit in the open over the last number of days that weren't properly extinguished, and the wind obviously fanned those and caused those fires to reignite," Cooper said.

One fire started from driftwood on a beach being used as a bonfire, while another started in a shelterbelt.

There was now a race to put the fires out ahead of more severe weather forecast for Thursday.

"What we're really trying to stress going forward is really imperative - that we get across to everyone is that we have a significant event coming in from midnight," he said.

"There's going to be rain and severe winds in the West Coast, but on the North and South Island on the East Coast, gale force winds with severe high temperatures.

"We need to really ensure our communities are vigilant," he said.

Our thoughts are with all of those impacted by the fires, and the volunteer firefighters who have been called in to action.