Firefighting will continue until dark at the Swannanoa vegetation fire, which is burning over an estimated 12 hectares in and around the Waimakariri riverbed near Christchurch.
Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Bruce Janes said that one helicopter was continuing aerial firefighting this evening, supporting crews from several brigades. Overnight crews will patrol and monitor the fireground. Six crews will return in the morning, supported by diggers.
Cordons will stay in place until the fire is out, and we ask that people stay well away from the area so our firefighters can focus on their task.
Although the cause of this fire is under investigation, Bruce Janes has repeated that people should not be doing any outdoor activities that could start a fire. Every household in a rural area should have an evacuation plan in case of wildfire, because in the current windy conditions, fires moved quickly and were very challenging to put out.
Image credit: Cullan Smith
And when they catch the arsonists, and they will, they will publish their names and photographs and their political affiliations…
Perhaps the target was a former National Party Minister who lives out that way, and who deliberately made errors on NZ Citizenship applications causing delays? The ‘Rabble Rousers’ are still around, honey…!
Clayton Cosgrove fixed those problems, though…
The target? To delay citizenship pending a National Party win where the Permanent Resident would have the visa revoked as punishment for going to see lawyers when the person’s spouse was abused, bullied and had employment rights violated by a government entity (Hint; Canterbury’s largest employer…)
The spouse has had ACC denied, cannot get back and knee operations (as punishment via phone calls? ie “Do not help this person, Doctor!”)
The former MP showed up at the Citizenship ceremony dressed in tattered jeans, a faded shirt, and came only to witness her victim take the affirmation after being tipped-off by a council worker.
Clayton Cosgrove did so much for the area, & we hope that he will run again as a NZ Loyal Party Candidate in the next (s)election.