Date:  11 March 2016

If you witnessed any activity around the Ferry Bridge look-out on the road into Hanmer Springs on Monday evening (7 March) between about 10 and 11.00 pm, we would like to hear from you.

DOC North Canterbury Operations Manager Kingsley Timpson says the fire investigation team has identified the area where the fire started on the steep bank below the look-out over the Waiau River and Ferry Bridge.

The fire spread from there up the slope and crossed the road to burn about 90 hectares of privately owned scrubland and forestry.

Kingsley Timpson says the fire team has received reports of people and vehicles at the look-out around the time the fire started.

"We are asking these people to contact us to tell us what they saw."

"If anyone else has any information that might assist us please contact DOC fire investigator Grant Campbell on 027 284 3360 or the DOC Rangiora Office," says Mr Timpson.

Fire crews from throughout North Canterbury are into their fifth day of fire suppression and are today focussed on dampening down hot spots within the contained fire area.

Kingsley Timpson says today's cool damp weather conditions are helping to avoid further fire flare-ups and fire crews are likely to be stood down later today.

DOC will continue to monitor the fire area and will use thermal cameras again early next week to identify if there are any remaining hot spots.

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