Fireworks banned in Christchurch after two more suspicious fires in Port Hills stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Stacy Squires/Stuff
Area commander Dave Stackhouse shows the areas where fireworks have been banned. The ban – which included Akaroa, Bottle Lake, New Brighton and the Port Hills – would take effect from 6pm on Wednesday. “These are all high risk areas and what we saw on Friday night was completely unnecessary and avoidable,” he said. Friday s fire, which burned through 25 hectares on the Port Hills, was caused by two youths playing with fireworks. Stackhouse said firefighters were working with police, but it was too early to say whether any charges would be laid. “Using fireworks should be completely out of the question, and we will take a very dim view of anyone who is found to be using them while this ban is in place.”
Fireworks banned around Christchurch - FENZ voxy.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from voxy.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The
ban is effective from 6pm this evening (16
December).
Overnight on Friday there was a significant
fire above Hillsborough which burnt through 25 hectares and
caused around 40 homes to be evacuated.
Fire and
Emergency can now confirm the blaze was caused by fireworks
late on Friday night.
As a result, and with conditions
drying out around Christchurch, Area Commander Dave
Stackhouse is banning the use of fireworks under Section 52
of the Fire and Emergency Act.
Section 52 of the Act
allows Fire and Emergency to restrict activities that may
start or cause the spread of fire. These are all high
risk areas, Mr Stackhouse says, and what we saw on Friday