Roxburgh scrub fire: Six homes evacuated, power cut to 220 properties
A scrub fire in Roxburgh, New Zealand, has forced the evacuation of six homes and caused power outages for over 220 properties. Firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze due to strong winds that have prevented the use of aerial support.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the increasing danger of wildfires in New Zealand as the region enters a challenging fire season exacerbated by extreme weather conditions.
Six homes have been evacuated in the Central Otago town of Roxburgh as firefighters work to contain a scrub fire fanned by strong winds.
The fire, which was burning in trees, was reported about 2.45pm today.
Six firefighting crews will work through the night to extinguish the blaze, supported by an aerial crew.
Power has been disconnected to more than 220 Roxburgh properties as a safety precaution, according to Aurora Energy’s website.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said strong winds had fanned multiple vegetation fires across Otago today, causing them to escalate quickly.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in