What you need to know about the fires in Christchurch

• State of emergency declared in Christchurch and Selwyn.
• Current focus is on controlling, not extinguishing the fire, says Civil Defence.
• One dead (helicopter pilot Steve Askin), 11 homes and 2 sheds destroyed.
• Two or three houses reported destroyed in the Worsley Spur area, not 40 as previously reported by Civil Defence.
• Cashmere Primary School, Cashmere Early Learning Centre and Kidsfirst Kindergarten in Cashmere are all closed today.
• The Ministry of Education said Governors Bay School had opened for class, contrary to earlier reports.
• Investigators seeking to determine how the fires started are appealing for photos and video footage taken on Early Valley Road on Monday, between 5.15pm and 6pm.
• The Nga Hau e Wha Marae is open to evacuated residents.
• About 1000 people are believed to have left their homes.
• Power is out in parts of Cashmere, Westmorland, Governors Bay, Marley Hills and the Lansdowne areas.
• Several roads are closed.
• Police and the Defence Force are evacuating residents as required. Extra police are patrolling the area.
• A health warning has been issued for anyone suffering respiratory issues to contact their GP.
• The fires have merged into one huge blaze, which is threatening dense housing. The estimated area of the fire is now more than 1850ha and growing.

For more information head to NZ Herald.