The Central App

Skippers Road wildfire

The Central App

Paul Taylor - Queenstown App

19 January 2023, 11:50 PM

Skippers Road wildfirePhotos: Fire and Emergency Otago

Firefighters returned to Queenstown's Skippers Road this morning to continue the fight against a large vegetation fire.

 

Crews from Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Station and Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade were called yesterday evening to battle the blaze, which had taken hold in across six hectares retired high country farmland that includes a large area of dead wilding pine trees, near Coronet Peak.

 

Six helicopters ferried monsoon buckets of water to the fire, last night. The crews were stood down at sunset, about 9pm, with the fire still burning.

 


"Four ground crews and three helicopters are back at work at the Long Gully fire on the Skippers road this morning," a FENZ spokesperson said.

 

"We’re asking mountain bikers to stay off several trails which would lead them close to the fireground. The Skippers Road is also closed." 

 

The road remains closed from the Coronet Peak turnoff.

 

The mountain bike trails close to the fire include the Skippers Pack Track, which is affected by the fire, the Coronet Loop below Greengate Saddle, the Pack Track and Sack Trail and Atleys Terrace Track.

 

Queenstown Bike Festival is due to start today and run for 10 days.

 

"Please stay well away from the area so our fire crews don't have to dodge other vehicles when they're accessing the fireground."