Strong winds fuel wildfires making difficult job for firefighters

23/10/2025 7 min
Strong winds fuel wildfires making difficult job for firefighters

Listen "Strong winds fuel wildfires making difficult job for firefighters"

Episode Synopsis


Wild winds are proving the enemy of emergency services. Gusts are fanning fires around the country with power lines toppled and trees ripped up by their roots. A local state of emergency remains in place for Canterbury with wind gusts up to 150 kilometres an hour expected. Tens of thousands of properties are without power at the top of the South Island and bottom of the North. Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Ken Cooper spoke to Lisa Owen.