More than 600 hectares of land and about 40 homes in Christchurch’s Port Hills have been engulfed by flames since two fires broke out on Monday, February 13.

Resources were being stretched between the two fires, and firefighters were expected to battle the blazes for another two to three days, New Zealand news outlet Stuff reported.

A number of homes were evacuated and livestock in the area was killed as fire ripped through houses, Radio NZ reported, with police evacuating more and more areas overnight on February 15.

On February 14, one of the 15 helicopters involved in controlling the blaze crashed, killing the pilot, according to police.

This video shows a wildfire near Christchurch on February 13. Credit: The Buzzy Kiwi via Storyful