Fire and Emergency crews are continuing to combat the Bridge Hill fire overnight, with ground teams remaining on site to monitor and fight the blaze where it is safe to do so. Air operations ceased at dusk.

In Castle Hill Village, some residents have self-evacuated as a precaution, while 11 homes remain occupied. Authorities, including Fire and Emergency, Selwyn District Council’s Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, and police, have developed an emergency evacuation plan for the remaining residents, should it become necessary overnight.

Evacuations, if required, will be communicated via Emergency Mobile Alerts and door-to-door notifications.

The area is restricted to remaining residents and emergency personnel, with police and security patrols in place throughout the night.

A community meeting is scheduled for 1pm tomorrow at the Tawera Memorial Hall in Springfield, in case evacuations continue into the day.

Incident Commander Dave Key thanked residents for their cooperation, saying, “Thank you to the community of Castle Hill Village for implementing their pre-prepared emergency plans. Your actions have made it much easier for us in the event of an emergency evacuation overnight. To those that have stayed, you must be ready to evacuate at very short notice.”

The fire has burned an estimated 535 hectares, though its size is believed to have increased since the last mapping update late this afternoon.

State Highway 73 will remain closed overnight, with Fire and Emergency and New Zealand Transport Agency planning to reassess its safety in the morning.