High winds ground helicopters at ‘largely confined’ scrub fire near Twizel, South Canterbury [Video]

• A large scrub fire has been blazing overnight in Pukaki Downs, South Canterbury
• Six properties have been evacuated and roads closed
• The blaze comes as the area is under an orange warning for high winds
• A convoy is to be escorted past the fire from Aoraki Mt Cook area

People wanting to leave the Aoraki Mt Cook area are to be escorted past a large scrub fire near Twizel, in South Canterbury.

High winds have grounded helicopters that were helping to battle the blaze but Fire and Emergency say the fire is largely confined within the existing perimeter.

Incident controller Stephen Butler said in a statement on Thursday evening that people who wanted to leave the Aoraki Mt Cook area could be escorted out, though there was no health and safety risk as the fire was some distance from where people were staying.

“But there are people who need to continue their trips or make connecting flights, and …