The fire has more than doubled in size since it broke out. Photo: Supplied/FENZ
Two fire crews will remain overnight at the scene of a large vegetation fire at Tiwai Point, south of Invercargill tonight.
Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said it was alerted to the large scrub fire at around midnight and it had since grown to 1200 hectares across the centre of the peninsula, with an 18 kilometre perimeter.
It said the blaze, which was burning in mixed scrub and wetland, had been fanned by higher temperatures and wind on Thursday afternoon.
Eight fire trucks were on the scene and 10 helicopters were helping with firefighting efforts.
Smoke from the fire is visible across Invercargill. Photo: Mike Bailey
Incident Controller Hamish Angus said the fire was not an immediate threat to people, homes, the smelter, or the Tiwai Bridge.
"The Tiwai Bridge is closed to all traffic except our crews and the smelter staff, and we're asking people to keep away from Tiwai Road so we can continue to work safely," he said.
"We are working closely with mana whenua and the Department of Conservation to ensure culturally and ecologically sensitive areas still threatened by the fire are prioritised for protection."
FENZ said two crews would be monitoring the blaze overnight, and all crews would return at 7am tomorrow to continue battling the fire.
The Tiwai smelter is not currently under threat. Photo: Intrepidweaver Photography/Rita Baker
Awarua Rūnaka manager Gail Thompson said she was deeply saddened at the damage caused in such a short time.
"This peninsula is a precious taonga, with a history going back a long way, which is important to Ngāi Tahu," she said.
Firefighters have been working in challenging conditions with an increase in temperature and winds that caused the fire to grow to 1,200ha. Photo: Supplied / FENZ
Department of Conservation operations manager for Murihiku John McCarroll said Awarua Peninsula had considerable environmental value, and the fire was a huge blow.
"Awarua has a significant number of biodiversity values and is used by a lot of wading birds for flocking and feeding, including the endangered Southern New Zealand Dotterel/Pukunui," he said.
"As well as the loss of wildlife, we've also lost assets such as predator-trapping infrastructure.
"We will assess the losses once the fire is under control and we can return there safely. We may never know the full impact on biodiversity, but it is likely significant."
People are being asked to stay clear of the Peninsula and access roads to allow crews to work safely. Photo: Supplied / FENZ
Earlier today, Invercargill City councillor Alex Crackett said smoke from the fire was visible across the city and from as far away as Riverton.
She said the fire was burning through vegetation, but the smoke was blowing in the opposite direction from the Tiwai aluminium smelter, which was not currently under threat.
Photo: Intrepidweaver Photography/Rita Baker
"We've got some sites of significance out there near Bluff, some urupa and some gorgeous and significant wetlands out there so I am really hoping it can be contained and controlled quite soon."
New Zealand Aluminium Smelter spokesman Simon King said there was no immediate impact or danger to the site or staff and the plant remained in operation.
It would continue to monitor the situation and remains in contact with emergency services, he said.
Two sentenced for Southland's Awarua Wetlands fire last week
Last week, two people were sentenced in the Invercargill District Court for lighting an unrelated fire in the Awarua Wetlands in April 2022 when a total fire ban was in place. A third person will be sentenced at a later date.
FENZ deputy national commander Steph Rotarangi said the fire burnt through 1330 hectares in an internationally recognised conservation area and firefighters fought it for over a week before it was contained.
The defendants pleaded guilty to fire-related offences, including lighting a fire during a prohibited season and allowing fires to get out of control and spread.
One offender was sentenced to seven months' home detention, and to pay reparations of $10,000, and the other was sentenced to 200 hours' community work and 12 months' supervision, and reparations of $10,000.
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