A Worsley Road couple remain on tenterhooks after being evacuated from their home as fire crews battle a large vegetation fire in Christchurch's Port Hills.
Doug Pflaum was at work when his wife Vicki called him this afternoon to say she was ordered to evacuate.
“I was in a meeting at the time and my phone was on silent and was in trouble with my wife as she was calling me” he told 1News.
“She said police were at our house and kicked her out as she was putting photo albums and items in the car, reluctant to leave”
The couple had only moved back into their house five weeks ago, having rebuilt it from the ground over three years when it went up in flames in the 2017 Port Hills fire – on this exact day seven years ago.
1News reporter Thomas Mead provides an update from the blaze in Christchurch. (Source: 1News)
“I’m hurting, I’m disappointed, my wife is shaken, and we’ve been told to keep an eye on the civil defence website for updates.
“But I’m optimistic that we will get back into our home tomorrow.”
A state of local emergency has been declared for Christchurch City, including Banks Peninsula, and the Selwyn District due to the impacts of the Port Hills fire which is burning uncontrolled.
Twenty-five fire trucks and tankers with more than 130 firefighters, as well as 12 helicopters, are tackling the fire, Fire and Emergency said.
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