The Fire and Emergency service plan to “hit it hard” with more firefighters on the ground on Christchurch’s Port Hills.

Firefighters will continue to focus on strengthening the fire break around the perimeter of the fire today.

Incident Commander Dave Stackhouse said the fire has burnt through 650 hectares, with a 14km perimeter and is now 70 per cent contained.

Today there are 95 Fire and Emergency staff on site, alongside 22 trucks and tankers, 12 helicopters, two fixed wing aircraft and five diggers.

Weather conditions and a light easterly wind will assist with operations today, Stackhouse said.

“Today we are going to hit it hard with a bigger number of firefighters to really focus on strengthening fire breaks. It is still very much an active fire ground with heavy machinery and helicopters at work,” Stackhouse said.

“Firefighters are working incredibly hard to get to a position where we can allow residents to return to their homes and get some normality, and this remains our priority.

“Today there will be a heavy presence on the Summit Rd and Worsley Spur as crews focus on containing the fire,” he said.

Dave Stackhouse reminds the public that the Canterbury region is in a prohibited fire season.

“I encourage the public to be mindful of this. Yesterday we had to pull resources from the Port Hills fire so crews could attend other fires in the area,” Stackhouse said.

The joint investigation with New Zealand Police into the cause and origin of the fire is continuing.

“Until the investigation is complete, we will not be making any comment about how the fire started, or any findings,” he said.