11 homes burned while hundreds evacuate New Zealand wildfire

WELLINGTON: Firefighters were battling flames in the hill suburbs of New Zealand’s second-largest city Thursday after a wildfire burned down 11 homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate.

An increase in humidity was helping efforts although strong winds were also fanning the flames of the wildfire, which was spread over 1,800 hectares (4,400 acres) in Christchurch’s Port Hills. A helicopter pilot who was a



decorated soldier died in a crash while fighting the blaze Tuesday.

The mayors of Christchurch City and the adjacent Selwyn District declared a state of emergency Wednesday. Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton said changing winds had made the fires unpredictable.

He said the region had been unusually dry for three years and the grass in the hills had turned brown over the Southern Hemisphere summer.