Fire threatens Huntsbury homes

Last updated 18:35 10/04/2012

 Jo Meyer SCRUB FIRE: A helicopter helps to battle a blaze on Huntsbury Hill this afternoon. Nicole Dove BATTLE: Fire crews are fighting a large scrub fire on Huntsbury Hill.
Two young children started the large St Martins blaze that engulfed a car and came within metres of consuming homes today.

At least eight fire engines and a helicopter using a monsoon bucket took two hours to bring the fire under control after it started about 12.45pm.

The fire stretched 300 metres from Albert Tce at the base of the hills to Aotea Tce.

Smoke covered the hillside, while flames fanned by strong winds came dangerously close to Glenview Tce properties.

Fire Service assistant area manager Dave Burford said two local children had admitted to police they started the fire with a lighter in a paddock near their homes.

''The police are talking to two young persons under the age of 10,'' he said.

''They were fully co-operative and took us to the spot where the fire started.''

Burford said the fire was not maliciously lit and was not connected to the spate of arsons that had struck the city in recent months.

The children would probably participate in a police programme designed for young offenders who commit arson, he said.

As they were under-10 they were extremely unlikely to face any charges.

FIRE UNDER CONTROL

A fire that came within metres of Christchurch houses this afternoon is now under control.

At least eight fire engines and a helicopter fought the large scrub fire in Albert Tce, St Martins.

The Fire Service was called about 12.55pm, and the fire was under control by about 3pm.

Janine Judson, who lives on the Rapaki Track, said about three or four houses had been threatened by the fire.

"There's a lot of damage to the hillside around there."

Several firefighters were dotted along the hillside in Huntsbury while a helicopter with a monsoon bucket was flying overhead, she said.

Justin Hayward, who moved his house truck on to an empty Albert Tce section three days ago, said he heard a "crackling sound" this afternoon and called the Fire Service.

"There were a couple of kids up there calling 'fire'," he said.

The area was often grazed by sheep, and children played there, residents said.

Shobna Parlane and her children, Hamish and Priya, saw the fire from nearby Hansen Park.

They rushed back to their Albert Tce home expecting the worst.

The wind had blown the fire uphill, and it had not gone into their section.

Parlane said children would often play in the paddock behind their house, where the fire started.

''The grass is never cut in there,'' she said.

''It is very dry.''

Burford said the fire required ''extensive man and machine power'' to bring under control.

It came close to damaging houses in Aotea Tce and Errol Ln, he said.
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Summer Olliver
DESTROYED: Two children started a St Martins fire that engulfed this car and came within metres of consuming homes today.