2017 Port Hills fires
The 2017 Port Hills fires were wildfires in the Port Hills of Christchurch, New Zealand. Two separate fires, several kilometres apart, started on Monday afternoon on 13 February 2017. By Wednesday night, the fires had combined to one large area. A helicopter crashed helping to fight the fires, causing the death of the pilot. Nine houses were destroyed and a further two were significantly damaged by the fires, and hundreds of residents were evacuated. The cause is officially undetermined, but it is believed the fires were deliberately lit.
| Port Hills fires | |
|---|---|
View of Cashmere on Wednesday evening, with Sugarloaf on the left | |
| Date(s) | 13 February 2017 – 20 April 2017 |
| Location | Port Hills, Christchurch and Selwyn District, New Zealand |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 2,075 hectares (5,130 acres) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 3 |
| Structures destroyed |
|
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Suspected arson |
On 14 February 2024 a similar fire started in the same area, triggering a state of emergency, a major deployment of firefighting helicopters, and evacuations of nearby houses. Lessons learned from the 2017 fire contributed to the official response and strategy for the new fire.