Glenorchy Road closed by fire (update #3)

Date:

Jan 11, 2017

0645, Wednesday 11 January 2017

A large scrub fire is burning across about 50ha of land on Jessie Peak above Rat Point on the Glenorchy Road between Queenstown and Glenorchy.

The road remains closed and power is cut to Glenorchy.

Deputy Rural Fire Officer Jamie Cowan, of the Otago Rural Fire Authority, said that in the last hour the fire had reached the ridgeline at the top of the slope above the road and its progress has slowed down. That has reduced the threat to communities, with the nearest houses about 2km away. At this stage no evacuations are required but residents of the communities of Bob’s Cove and Closeburn Station have been alerted.

Several helicopters with monsoon buckets joined the operation at daybreak and there are 50 personnel from rural fire and NZ Fire Service crews around Otago on the ground.

A further update will be issued at 7.30am.

ENDS