New images show the devastation caused by a raging wind-fueled blaze on Kaikōura’s Kincaid Rd overnight.

Five homes were razed to the ground as the intense winds made fighting the fires difficult.

Little is left of two homes beyond their concrete foundations. A chimney is all that remains standing on one property while charred roofing iron is scattered across the now-empty sections.

The aftermath of the fire that destroyed five homes in Kaikōura. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

The area remains cordoned off, with property owners within the cordon being asked to stay away.

Eleven crews, heavy machinery and tree fellers, supported by two helicopters, continued to battle fires in Kaikōura this morning.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand incident controller Dave Key says the focus today is on active firefighting and strengthening containment lines.

“There’s a number of dangerous trees that are burning from the inside out, so that’s a priority for us,” he said.

“And strengthening our containment lines while we’ve got this small weather window before the wind picks up this afternoon and tomorrow.

A burnt out car on a Kincaid Road property in Kaikōura. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

“We’re asking the people in Kaikoura Flats area who haven’t been evacuated to be vigilant and if they see any fires to call 111 immediately.”

A total ban on outdoor fireworks and fires came into effect at midday in Marlborough, Canterbury and South Canterbury because of the extreme risk.

“We’re asking every landowner, agricultural contractor, forestry manager, lifestyle block owner, if they can go and check on any fires that they’ve had recently and make sure that they have been extinguished. We continue to work with police, and our priority again is containment of the fire and the welfare of the people who have been affected,” said Key.

One of five homes destroyed by fire in Kaikōura. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

Key said experts were in the area today to try and determine what caused last night’s fires.

State Highway 1 has now opened north of Kaikōura under traffic management and is fully open south, but people need to be vigilant for hazards.

However, Inland Rd and local roads between Old Beach Rd and State Highway 1, including Factory, Skevingtons, Hāpuku and Wilderness Roads, are still closed.

Will Doughty from the Kaikōura District Council said train tracks in the area will be under speed management.

All schools in the area are open today with the exception of Hāpuku School.

The aftermath of the fire that destroyed five homes in Kaikōura. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

Takahanga Marae hosted 20 people overnight and Doughty said the council was grateful to Te Rūnanga o Koukourarata for the support it was providing.

“We now move into longer term welfare support and needing to find longer-term options than just immediate shelter for people that may have been displaced.”

MetService has updated its warnings and watches, including upgrading wind warnings in the Wellington and Canterbury areas to red wind warnings. This means there is a threat to life from flying items and debris.

Below is a list of all the warnings and watches.

Strong Wind Warning – Red

Wellington and Wairarapa south of Carterton

Period: 10hrs from 8am – 6pm Thu, 23 Oct

Forecast: Severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts of 140 km/h in exposed places.

Canterbury High Country

Period: 16hrs from 1am – 5pm Thu, 23 Oct

Forecast: Severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts of 150 km/h in exposed places.

Christchurch and Canterbury Plains

Period: 6hrs from 10am – 4pm Thu, 23 Oct

Forecast: Severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts of 130 km/h in exposed places.