Large fire forces evacuations in Wānaka’s Albert Town
A major blaze in Albert Town near Wānaka forced the evacuation of 22 homes on Saturday evening and is being treated as suspicious.
A large fire broke out in a reserve in Albert Town, near Wānaka, on Saturday night at around 7:30pm, forcing 22 households to evacuate. Fire crews from multiple stations battled the blaze in strong winds for about two-and-a-half hours to contain it. Fire and Emergency is now treating the fire as suspicious and has appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Covered byRNZStuffNZ Herald1NewsNewstalk ZBOtago Daily TimesNot covered byNewsroomThe SpinoffBusinessDeskinterest.co.nz
Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
RNZ
Firefighters responding to large Wanaka fire
Firefighters are responding to a large fire in Wanaka.
NZ Herald
Multiple fire crews responding to large blaze in scenic South Island town
A structure fire has been reported in Albert Town.
1News
Firefighters rush to large blaze in Wānaka
Fire crews from Wānaka, Luggate and Lake Hāwea are responding to a blaze on Lagoon Dr, with footage showing a significant plume of smoke and flames.
RNZ
Live: Firefighters responding to large Wanaka fire
Firefighters are responding to a large fire in Wānaka, where evacuations have begun.
Stuff
Evacuations underway as multiple houses reportedly on fire in Wānaka
Fire engines from Wānaka, Luggate, Cromwell and Lake Hāwea have been called to the incident.
1News
Evacuations underway as flames tower over homes in Wānaka blaze
Fire crews from Wānaka, Luggate, Lake Hāwea and Cromwell are battling a large blaze in Albert Town, with police carrying out evacuations as flames rip through vegetation.
RNZ
Live: Firefighters responding to large Wanaka fire, evacuations carried out
Firefighters are responding to a large fire in Wānaka, where evacuations have begun.
Otago Daily Times
Houses evacuated as firefighters battle large Albert Town fire
NZ Herald
Albert Town residents flee homes from huge scrub fire, fanned by winds
Fire and Emergency says no houses are under threat but “we still are at risk".
1News
Firefighters battling strong winds to contain large Wānaka fire
Fire crews from Wānaka, Luggate, Lake Hāwea and Cromwell are battling a large blaze in Albert Town, with police carrying out evacuations as flames rip through vegetation.
RNZ
Strong winds hampering firefighters at large Wānaka blaze
About 22 homes were evacuated in Wānaka's Albert Town on Saturday night, as the huge flames burned close to residential streets on steep terrain.
1News
Firefighters battling strong winds to contain large Wānaka fire
Fire crews from Wānaka, Luggate, Lake Hāwea and Cromwell are battling a large blaze in Albert Town, with police carrying out evacuations as flames rip through vegetation.
1News
Large Wānaka blaze contained after evacuations, cause unknown
The cause of the large blaze, reported at about 7.30pm, was still unknown.
RNZ
Firefighters investigating cause of large Wānaka blaze
Fire and Emergency said no houses had caught fire on Saturday.
Otago Daily Times
Firefighters investigating cause of large Wānaka blaze
1News
Large Wānaka blaze contained after evacuations, cause unknown
The cause of the large blaze, reported at about 7.30pm, was still unknown.
RNZ
'The astounding thing was the speed': Residents survey aftermath of Albert Town fire
Eight fire crews battled for two-and-a-half hours in windy conditions to contain the blaze.
1News
'Pretty scary': Wānaka residents describe moment large blaze broke out
Fire crews were notified of a large vegetation in Albert Town at 7.30 last night, with 22 households forced to evacuate.
Otago Daily Times
‘An explosion without the noise’: frightening scenes in Albert Town fire
Otago Daily Times
‘An explosion without the noise’: frightening scenes in Albert Town fire
1News
Witnesses sought after large blaze forces evacuations in Wānaka
The fire in Albert Town forced the evacuation of 22 homes on Saturday evening.
RNZ
Too early to tell if large Wānaka blaze suspicious, fire investigators say
Fire and Emergency were asking anyone in the area on Saturday night to get in touch.
RNZ
Fire and Emergency treating large Wānaka blaze as suspicious
The fire took hold in a reserve on Saturday night and forced the evacuation of 22 homes.
1News
Blaze forcing Wānaka evacuations being treated as suspicious
Specialist fire investigators called for witnesses to the blaze in Albert Town on Saturday to come forward.
Otago Daily Times