The Port Hills Fire (2017) was one of the biggest and most severe in terms of the number of houses affected and people evacuated in recent Aotearoa history. Burning through 1,600 hectares of land it fully destroyed nine homes and damaged five others. It also tragically claimed the life of a helicopter pilot fighting the wildfires. It is estimated that the cost of fighting this fire was nearly $8 million dollars, and about $18.3 million claims from insurers (https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/94346662/high-rural-firefighting-costs-for-the-port-hills-fires).

Due to the economic and financial impact of this fire, Christchurch City Council’s (CCC) Smart Christchurch unit began to look for ways to identify early signs of fire in high-risk areas. The goal was to implement a technological solution to monitor environmental conditions and alert emergency services if any signs of fire are detected.

A first in New Zealand, the sensing network provides an unparalleled level of real-time information to deliver live situational awareness and safety.
The Christchurch City Council Information Network (CCCIN) environmental sensors record:
• Thermal and visual imaging to detect fires starting, re-ignitions, hot spots, movements and changes in conditions.
• Micro-climate information including data on wind speed, direction, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure and rainfall.
• Air quality data including levels of ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, as well as pollen, dust, smoke and other particulates that can affect people’s respiratory health.

This solution delivers real time 24/7, 365 days monitoring as well as alerting capabilities to pinpoint potential source of fire and direct fire emergency services accordingly. If a fire is starting, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) will receive notification in real-time and with the sensors providing real-time weather condition data, firefighters can make more informed decision in terms of firefighting activities. Live intelligence of all factors to inform, improve response, reduce impact and provide better outcomes.

The importance of this initiative was emphatically highlighted during the 2024 Port Hills Fire, seven years on the day of the first Port Hills fire, which reaffirmed the urgent need for effective early detection systems in managing wildfire risks. The CCCIN proved invaluable during this recent event, demonstrating its capability to provide critical information that helped safeguard lives, property, and the environment. This experience underlined the necessity of continued investment in technological solutions that can protect communities against the growing threat of wildfires.