New sensors have been installed in Christchurch’s Port Hills to help prevent fires from spreading, and to save property and lives.
Imported from Australia, the four sensors use a combination of thermal imaging, a 360-degree camera, and air quality technology.
Christchurch City Council’s Michael Healy said the system uses a thermal camera to look for heat spots.
He added it will also scan for smoke and check the air quality before comparing the two and looking for the early stages of a fire.
Healy said if anything is detected then emergency services will be alerted, who can check the cameras and respond adequately.
“And then also through the course of a fire, it can be used for situational awareness to understand what’s happening with the wind, the weather, and to track how the fire is progressing.”
Each sensor will cost $40k, which Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger said was coming mostly from the central Government.
“This is absolutely wonderful.
“One of the governments, gave us some money, so they’re running around trying to find something to do with it, and I said here, how about this?” said Mauger.
The sensors are in response to the wildfires in 2017, that ripped through more than 2000 hectares, destroyed nine houses, and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate.
Yvette Couch-Lewis from Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke said she hoped the residents would feel reassured.
“It’s scary for everyone when we think about fire and we think about the Port Hills in terms of how dry, we know how dry it can get here,” said Couch-Lewis.
Sensors had already been installed at Bottle Lake Forest during a trial, and then at Naval Point and Christchurch’s Adventure Park.
When a blaze started at the Adventure Park in 2024, an alert went out and fire crews were able to watch and react.
“I understand that during the fires last year having the sensors up here made a huge difference enabling a very rapid response,” said Mauger.
