Paul Askin has spent many years fearing terrible news about his son Steve.

On Tuesday, that moment came when police arrived to tell him Steve had been killed in a helicopter crash while he was fighting the Port Hills fires, the Christchurch Star reports.

The cause of the crash, which happened near Sugarloaf, is being investigated by police, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

Steve Askin, 37, died leaving his wife, Elizabeth, and children, aged 7 and 4.

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He was a military hero, awarded a NZ Gallantry Star for his bravery while fighting for the SAS in Afghanistan in 2014.

He had his ear shot off while rescuing hotel guests during a five-hour shootout against the Taliban.

Paul Askin said Steve was the kind of person it was easy to be proud of.

"I always thought if I was a hostage being held somewhere like that, I would want boys like him coming to my rescue. Somebody's kid has got to do it," Paul said.

He said Steve always wanted to do something worthwhile with his life.

His last conversation with his son was on Monday night, as they chatted while Steve cooked the family's dinner.

Midway through Steve got the call about the fire, warning he could be called up to fight it.

He was an experienced pilot for Way To Go Heliservices, but usually did agricultural work.

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Paul said Steve was excited about being able to help, and left soon after the call to make sure the helicopters were ready to go.

"He loved fighting fires, it was the best part of flying, for him," Paul said.

The next morning, Paul heard him leave at dawn.

Steve called his wife from the helicopter later that day.

When Paul got home later that afternoon, he said he heard there had been a helicopter crash.

He called the hangar, and was told it was one of their choppers.

"I thought, 'if the cops turn up, that will be him'."

A police car arrived soon afterward, and he said he knew his son was dead the minute he saw it.

He said Steve was courageous, generous, a great storyteller, an adventurer, a mischief-maker, and had the cheekiest smile.

Steve spent almost all his free time with his family, and was very close to his brothers and two sisters.

Steve met his wife, Elizabeth, through family friends, and they went on their first date in a helicopter around Banks Peninsula.

"I think Steve tried to scare her, but she was not easily scared," Paul said.

The family gathered yesterday, and he said there had been many stories shared.

Steve's brother-in-law shared the last conversation they had, where Steve advised him to live more frugally and spend more time with his family.

"He inspired people to do great things - although some things were also pretty stupid," Paul said.

Steve left the army two years ago to spend more time with his family, and Paul said he missed the sense of adventure and close relationships he had in the army.

"But Steve found there was a kind of success and thrill in seeing your kids grow and blossom, and he took a lot of satisfaction from that," he said.

He said the whole family were still struggling to come to terms with what had happened.

"We've got a hell of a mountain to climb, but the only way up is together," he said.

"The best tribute we can pay to Steve is to love his kids and his wife."

A Givealittle page has been set up.

By Gabrielle Stuart, Christchurch Star</s>At least eight homes have been destroyed in out-of-control fires threatening Christchurch.

At least three houses are known to have fallen victim to the blaze in the Worsley Spur area, on top of three destroyed Hoon Hay Valley Rd and one on Old Tai Tapu Rd on Wednesday, along with one on Early Valley Rd overnight Monday.

An earlier police estimate that as many as 40 homes had "been lost" to the flames has been drastically revised.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ David and Michael Chadwick, 3, watch the Port Hills fire from State Highway 75 on Wednesday.

More homes in Christchurch's Port Hills were being evacuated from 5am on Thursday as the massive wildfires continued to rage. Civil Defence said the two fires that started on Monday had merged into one and covered about 1850 hectares.

READ MORE:

* Live: Homes evacuated as Christchurch Port Hills fire rage out of control

* Christchurch family devastated their home is ash

* Pilot who died fighting Christchurch fires was ex-SAS member David Steven Askin

* Thick smoke triggers health warning

* Lucky escape for Christchurch family home

* Photos: Huge fires tear through Christchurch's Port Hills

* Christchurch Port Hills ablaze

* Live: Huge blaze spreads near Hastings

* Huge fire prompts state of emergency in Hawke's Bay

Civil Defence said police were evacuating residents downhill of the Sign of the Takahe on Dyers Pass Rd as far down as, and including, Kiteroa Place and Pentre Tce.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ Civil Defence opened an evacuation centre at Te Hapua Halswell Centre.

Affected residents would be contacted directly by police, who were knocking on doors.

Those who felt unsafe were advised to self-evacuate.

Police were concerned about traffic and people in the area and asked all non-residents to stay away to keep the roads clear for emergency services.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ The Port Hills fire continues to burn through the night, viewed from Bengal Drive in Cashmere.

Cordons were set up along Cashmere Rd after midnight, restricting access to most streets running off it, such as Worsleys Rd and Penruddock Rise.

The blaze, which was visible from Bengal Dr early on Thursday morning, was continuing to take hold of land surrounding the new Christchurch Adventure Park.

Plumes of fire continued to rise as the blaze romped through vegetation in the area behind Cashmere.

MARTIN VAN BEYNEN/FAIRFAX NZ Flames tore through the trees at Victoria Park on Wednesday evening.

Directly across from the Adventure Park, the fire jumped Dyers Pass Rd and was taking hold of Victoria Park.



In a statement, Civil Defence said there were still several "very active" fires in the Port Hills, but not as many as there were before 12am on Thursday.

"A large number of fire crews have been on the ground working hard to protect properties overnight, and the drop in fire activity can also be attributed to a decrease in temperature and a rise in humidity."

Helicopters were expected to fly at first light on Thursday.

DAVID WALKER/Stuff.co.nz Residents in the Christchurch suburb of Westmorland are evacuating as the Port Hills fires spread on Wednesday.

In total, more than 400 households had been evacuated around Victoria Park and Dyers Pass Rd, Worsleys Rd, Westmorland and Kennedys Bush.

Most evacuees had moved on from, or bypassed, the Te Hapua Halswell Centre, where a welfare centre was set up.



Civil Defence centre manager Henry Jaiswal said six people stayed at the centre overnight.

"We had more people before, but they've left. They just came for a cup of tea and a chat," he said.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ Fire lights up the Port Hills at midnight Wednesday.

The evacuees at the centre were a mix of voluntary evacuees and people evacuated by the authorities.

"We've got another shift at 7am-3pm. After that we'll assess . . . if we don't have hardly any people coming in then we'll shut at 3pm," Jaiswal said. He did not expect more evacuees to show up overnight.

Another centre had been set up at Nga Hau e Wha Marae, but no one had arrived by 1.30am Thursday. Those wanting to access the centre were advised to drive around the back of the marae, off Pages Rd.

BRITA CORBETT Growing smoke cloud over Christchurch's Port Hills.

'BIG TREES AND VEGETATION'

Selwyn District Council principal rural fire officer Douglas Marshall said it was hard to fight the blaze because there were "a lot of big trees and vegetation in that part of the city".

Authorities urged people to follow all requests to evacuate.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ A line of fire burns across the Port Hills on Wednesday evening.

Council public information manager Stephen Hill said the fire had "gone across Dyers Pass Rd and is in Victoria Park".

Earlier, one front of the Port Hills fires had crossed over into Victoria Park and residents living between there and the Sign of the Takahe were told to evacuate immediately.

Four homes were destroyed as the massive fire blazed through the Christchurch hill suburbs of Westmorland and Kennedys Bush.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/FAIRFAX NZ View of the Port Hills fire from Westmorland on Wednesday evening.

Three houses were destroyed on Hoon Hay Valley Rd on Wednesday afternoon. The Early Valley Rd fire area was also extending and claimed another home on Old Tai Tapu Rd.

Firefighting helicopters were stood down for the night and those living in the Port Hills were warned to be prepared to evacuate at short notice.

Some of the evacuations on Wednesday included Kennedys Bush Rd and its intersecting streets from Halswell Quarry up towards the end of Kennedys Bush Rd, Dyers Pass Rd south of Takahe Drive, Pentre Tce and Longhurst Tce and streets to the south.

SARAH RAMSEY A view of the Christchurch fires from the top of the BNZ centre in the central city.

The fires, which have raged since Monday afternoon, claimed the life of 38-year-old helicopter pilot David Steven Askin, who was killed while fighting the flames.

They also caused a 30-minute power outage to 89,000 Christchurch households. Widespread power outages were reported about 2pm after smoke or flames from the fires caused the Transpower 220 kV line to trip.

FIRES WERE 'NEVER UNDER CONTROL'

JACK FLETCHER/FAIRFAX NZ Several cordons along Cashmere Rd, including this one into Westmorland, have been lifted over the weekend.

NZ Fire Service assistant area commander Greg Crawford said the situation was "pretty volatile" and the fires had "never really been under control".

Marshall said it was unsafe to fight at night so the fires could "get away".

"We had that in Governors Bay [overnight Tuesday]."

Asked on Wednesday afternoon what the plan was for after nightfall, Marshall said: "I don't know right now is the honest answer."

The fire "spread extensively" down Worsley Spur late Wednesday, extensively burning vegetation on the Christchurch Adventure Park as it approached the residential area Westmorland, which has been evacuated.

Up to 400 people were evacuated from homes in Worsley Rd, Cracroft, the bottom of Hoon Hay Valley Rd and the Westmorland area.

MARTIN VAN BEYNEN/FAIRFAX NZ Blackened bush in Ohinetahi Reserve in the hills above Governors Bay.

The cordon at Cashmere Rd into Westmorland was later removed and residents were allowed to return home.

Homes were evacuated on Dyers Pass Rd, Cashmere, above the Sign of the Takahe, Kennedy's Bush Rd, Halswell, and Early Valley Rd, where the fires first began.

Residents who were evacuated were able to seek help at two city welfare centres at Te Hapua Halswell Centre and Nga Hau e Wha Marae.

MARTIN VAN BEYNEN/FAIRFAX NZ Smoke pours from burning trees in the hills above Governors Bay.

A State of Emergency was declared in Christchurch and Selwyn.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee announced late on Wednesday that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) could provide logistics personnel and equipment from Burnham Military Camp.

​"Engineering equipment, water tankers and manpower options that will support cordons, firebreaks, and firefighters will also be deployed.

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/Stuff.co.nz Neil McPhail watched as the flames approached his house.

"Since yesterday, six NZDF firefighters and two appliances have been assisting in Early Valley Rd, near Kennedys Bush southwest of the city," Brownlee said.

WESTMORLAND EVACUATED

On Wednesday afternoon, Westmorland residents gathered at the corner of Penruddock Rise and Cashmere Rd at a police cordon where officers took the names of those they are letting collect pets and other family members.

Phil and his two children, aged 7 and 5, sought shade under a tree next to Francis Reserve.

"I've just organised someone to get my dog," he said

His two children, still in school uniform, sat alongside.

MARTIN VAN BEYNEN/FAIRFAX NZ A helicopter with a monsoon bucket drops water on trees in the Ella Track/Cass Ridge Track area above Governors Bay.

His son, 7, described the situation as "bad".

Lisa Briggs said her home at the top of Kennedy's Bush Rd was under the path of constant helicopters.

"I'm scared because if it gets any closer my house could burn down," Briggs said.

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/FAIRFAX NZ Helicopters fill monsoon buckets from Lyttelton Harbour on Wednesday.

"The bags are packed, the dog is already gone so it's just me and the cat.

"The kids are going to my sister's place at the bottom of the hill."

Briggs' husband and a neighbour had dug a small fire break behind the house and had the sprinklers going since Tuesday.

TWITTER/METSERVICE/JMA Smoke from the fires on Christchurch's Port Hills can be seen clearly from space.

"It seems like Christchurch can't catch a break, first the earthquakes and now fires."

EXTRA POLICE PATROLS

Christchurch police had extra patrols out overnight Wednesday to help those in areas affected by the fires and check on those affected by power outages.

MARTIN VAN BEYNEN/FAIRFAX NZ Thick smoke from the spreading Port Hills fire envelopes Lyttelton Harbour on Wednesday morning.

They urged residents to check on neighbours as many would be feeling anxious.

About 50 police and 36 NZDF personnel were working on the fire response overnight to carry out evacuations, joint patrols and reassure people in the areas impacted by the fires.

DAMAGE TO ADVENTURE PARK

MORNING REPORT/RNZ RNZ News reporter Conan Young is live from Governors Bay which is under threat from the Port Hills fire.

Christchurch Adventure Park spokeswoman Anne Newman said the fire was getting close to the park's chairlift base station.

The fire entered the valley where the park was situated, but the village, at the bottom of the valley, was untouched.

Vegetation surrounding the some mountain bike tracks was "gone", Newman said.

MARTIN VAN BEYNEN/FAIRFAX NZ ???Ash coats cars in Diamond Harbour, on the other side of Lyttelton Harbour, following the Christchurch Port Hills fires.

"But, you know, trees can grow again," she said.

She did not know whether the chairlift pylons or the station at the top of the lift were damaged.

The $20 million park opened on December 17 last year after an eight-month build process. Staff had earlier been evacuated from the park.

GEORGE HEARD/STUFF.CO.NZ Fire crews are getting a blaze in Christchurch's Port Hills under control.

COULD BURN FOR 72 HOURS

Selwyn District Council spokesman Stephen Hill says the fires could continue for another 48 to 72 hours.

The largest fire started on Early Valley Rd about 6pm on Monday while a smaller one at Marleys Hill, near Sign of the Kiwi, started in a car park about 7pm on Monday.

TIM MCGINN A helicopter fills a monsoon bucket from a small pond near Sugarloaf on the Port Hills.

Crews with diggers and bulldozers were working since 6am to create new fire breaks to protect properties in the Holmes Rd area, including one belonging to Graeme and Leah Causer.

Graeme Causer said he was "hopeful" a fresh fire break bulldozed by contractors on his hillside would stop the fire spreading further.

"The biggest wait will be over the next two weeks to two months, I mean, until we get a big rain it'll keep smouldering for at least two months."

Contractors were widening a section of the fire break to keep the flames back from trees behind their house.

"I don't really care about the house, we've been in there three times to pick things up, you know, photos and jewellery from the safe," Causer said.</s>Hundreds of people in the New Zealand city of Christchurch have been evacuated from their homes as bushfires threaten some suburbs.

At least one home was burned down in the Port Hills, just a few kilometres south of Christchurch's city centre.

The mayors of Christchurch City and the adjacent Selwyn District declared a state of emergency. Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton said changing winds made the fires unpredictable.

He said the region had been unusually dry for the past three years and the grass in the hills had turned brown over the summer.

Smoke and ash from the fire has been blown across Christchurch, New Zealand's second-largest city.

Mr Broughton said displaced residents were staying at evacuation centres or with relatives.

"They need to look after one another, and make sure they have a place to go to tonight," he said.

Phil Claude told Radio New Zealand he and his family ran down a grass track to escape the fire, which destroyed their home.

"I could see that the smoke and the flames were being blown right up toward our house and I just yelled 'get out, get out!'," he said.

He said he had been told his house "was apparently singed" but found it burned to the ground when he returned.

New Zealand's military has been deployed to provide water tankers and engineering equipment as well as firefighters and other personnel.

A helicopter pilot died in a crash on Tuesday while fighting the blaze.

The military revealed the pilot, Corporal David Steven Askin, had won one of the country's top awards for bravery, for his efforts in Afghanistan.

A member of the elite Special Air Service, Corporal Askin's identity was kept secret at the time he won the Gallantry Star medal in 2014.

He was cited for efforts that included helping save guests during the 2011 siege of the luxury Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul that left at least 20 people dead.

"Corporal Askin was wounded by grenade and rifle fire, yet carried on his mission and rescued guests from the hotel as fire broke out," the Defence Force said in a statement.</s>The helicopter pilot who died helping fight the Port Hills fire near Christchurch yesterday was an ex-SAS serviceman injured in battle. Waimakariri local David Steven Askin, 38, was killed in a chopper crash near the Sugarloaf carpark just after 2pm, police have confirmed this morning.

Start the conversation, or Read more at The New Zealand Herald.</s>WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Firefighters were battling flames in the hill suburbs of New Zealand's second-largest Thursday after a wildfire burned down 11 homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate.



An increase in humidity was helping efforts although strong winds were also fanning the flames of the wildfire, which was spread over 1,800 hectares (4,400 acres) in Christchurch's Port Hills. A helicopter pilot who was a decorated soldier died in a crash while fighting the blaze Tuesday.



The mayors of Christchurch City and the adjacent Selwyn District declared a state of emergency Wednesday. Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton said changing winds had made the fires unpredictable.



He said the region had been unusually dry for three years and the grass in the hills had turned brown over the Southern Hemisphere summer.



Smoke and ash were being blown across Christchurch. Broughton said displaced residents were staying at evacuation centers or with relatives.



"They need to look after one another, and make sure they have a place to go," he said.



Phil Claude told Radio New Zealand he and his family ran down a grass track to escape the fire, which destroyed their home.



"I could see that the smoke and the flames were being blown right up toward our house," he said. "And I just yelled 'Get out. Get out!'"



The Christchurch City Council said police had ordered the evacuation of 400 homes while many others nearby were choosing to leave. About 130 firefighters were battling the blaze from the ground while crews in 14 helicopters and three planes were battling it from the air.



A new mountain bike park, the Christchurch Adventure Park, was threatened by the fire.



New Zealand's military has been deployed to provide water tankers and engineering equipment as well as firefighters and other personnel.



The helicopter pilot who died while fighting the fire, Cpl. David Steven Askin, won one of the country's top awards for bravery for his actions in Afghanistan.



Askin was a member of the elite Special Air Service and his identity was kept secret when he won the Gallantry Star medal in 2014. He was cited for efforts that included helping save guests during the 2011 siege of the luxury Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul that left at least 20 people dead.



"Corporal Askin was wounded by grenade and rifle fire, yet carried on his mission and rescued guests from the hotel as fire broke out," the Defence Force said in a statement.</s>A wildfire destroyed at least 11 homes and forced hundreds of terrified residents to evacuate in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, authorities said Thursday.

Civil defence officials declared a state of emergency in the South Island city late Wednesday as two blazes that had been smouldering for days merged into a single giant fire-front.

Christchurch City Council said more than 1,800 hectares (4,500 acres) of land had been torched in the Port Hills, an area of rugged and difficult to access terrain to the east of the city centre.

About 1,000 people had been evacuated and, with winds forecast to pick up and fan the flames, authorities warned residents to flee at the first sign of danger.

"We understand it's hard for people to leave their homes but the fire can change direction and move incredibly quickly," senior sergeant Ash Tabb said.

"If you're worried, don't leave it too late -- it's better to be safe than sorry."

With a thick pall of smoke hanging over Christchurch, residents with respiratory ailments were advised to stay indoors.

Wildfires of such ferocity are rare in New Zealand, where regular rainfall usually prevents them reaching the intensity seen in places like Australia and the US west coast.

The emergency has so far claimed one life, when a helicopter that was dumping water on the flames crashed Tuesday and killed pilot Steve Askin, a decorated special forces veteran.

Civil Defence said it had confirmed 11 homes had been razed but added the situation was constantly changing.

It said 14 helicopters and three planes were helping battle the blaze, the maximum number of aircraft that could safely operate around the fire-front at one time.

Some 200 firefighters were operating about 45 pumps and tankers on the ground, with police and the military also providing additional personnel to the emergency response.

Civil defence said weather conditions were forecast to ease on Friday, slowing the fire's progress.</s>Wildfires on the edge of New Zealand's second-largest city have destroyed 11 houses and forced hundreds of people to evacuate.

John Mackie, the civil defence controller for Christchurch, said about 130 firefighters on the ground assisted by more than a dozen helicopters had stopped the blaze from encroaching further into the city.

He said the plan was to let it burn itself out, and that a forecast of rain over the weekend would help. He said the fire was spread over about 5,000 acres in Christchurch's Port Hills.

The cause of the fire remained unknown and was being investigated, he said.

A helicopter pilot who was a decorated soldier died in a crash while fighting the blaze earlier this week.

Corporal David Steven Askin had won one of the country's top awards for bravery for his actions in Afghanistan.

He was a member of the elite Special Air Service and his identity was kept secret when he won the Gallantry Star medal in 2014.

He was cited for efforts that included helping save guests during the 2011 siege of the luxury Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul that left at least 20 people dead.

Christchurch City and adjacent Selwyn District declared a state of emergency on Wednesday. Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton said changing winds had made the fire unpredictable.

He said the region had been unusually dry for three years and the grass in the hills had turned brown over the Southern Hemisphere summer.

Police ordered the evacuation of about 400 homes while many other people living nearby were choosing to leave. Mr Broughton said displaced residents were staying at evacuation centres or with relatives.

Phil Claude told Radio New Zealand he and his family ran down a grass track to escape the fire, which destroyed their home.

"I could see that the smoke and the flames were being blown right up toward our house," he said. "And I just yelled: 'Get out. Get out!'"

A new mountain bike park, the Christchurch Adventure Park, was threatened by the fire.

New Zealand's military was providing water tankers and engineering equipment as well as firefighters and other personnel.</s>Firefighters in New Zealand's second-largest city were able to halt a wildfire's advance on suburban homes Thursday after it burned down 11 houses in the hill suburbs and forced hundreds of people to evacuate.

John Mackie, the civil defense controller for Christchurch, said about 130 firefighters on the ground assisted by more than a dozen helicopters had stopped the fire from encroaching further into the city.

He said the plan was to let it burn itself out, and that a forecast of rain over the weekend would help. He said the fire was spread over about 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) in Christchurch's Port Hills.</s>Helicopters have been deployed to fight a fire on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city. A state of emergency was declared by Christchurch and Selwyn councils. Around 1,000 residents were evacuated from their homes in the Port Hills area. The fire has burned through more than 1850 hectares of scrub and forest.</s>WELLINGTON: More than 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes and a state of emergency was declared in New Zealand's third largest city of Christchurch on Thursday (Feb 16) after a wildfire threatens homes.

The fire in the Port Hills district of the city began earlier this week but spread rapidly overnight to cover more than 1,800 hectares, emergency workers said.

Prime Minister Bill English cancelled all his engagements to set off for Christchurch to monitor developments.

"The situation remains very serious," said David Adamson, Christchurch Civil Defence Controller. "Police and the Defence Force have had a huge job overnight with evacuations, the setting-up of cordons around key areas and security patrols of areas that have been evacuated."

Fifteen helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, the maximum number that can safely be in the air at any one time, have been despatched amid forecasts for winds that could fan the flames.

A change in the wind direction is predicted for later in the week that will lower temperatures and humidity and could slow the fire's progress, emergency workers said.

A helicopter pilot died on Tuesday after crashing while tackling the blaze.
At least eight homes are destroyed as a wildfire rages out of control in the Port Hills, in the southern outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand. A pilot died when his helicopter crashed while fighting the fire.