Thick smoke rising from active scrub fire at Lake Pukaki New Zealand in September 2023

thick smoke active fire scrub fire lake pukaki new zealand september 2023 wildfire smoke plume burning flames blaze inferno firestorm environmental disaster emergency response firefighters helicopters evacuation crisis management natural disaster danger hazardous charred landscape flames and smoke wildland fire conflagration disaster relief firefighting efforts emergency services blazing inferno intense heat catastrophic event forest fire scorched earth spreading flames smoky skies hazardous conditions thick plumes raging inferno firefighting teams emergency situation battling the blaze destructive wildfire firefighting operations emergency evacuation disaster recovery scrub mount cook september 21st