Firefighters were battling flames in the hill suburbs of New Zealand's second-largest city today 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 in Christchurch's Port Hills.<br/><br/>A helicopter pilot who was a decorated soldier died in a crash while fighting the blaze on Tuesday. The mayors of Christchurch City and the adjacent Selwyn District declared a state of emergency yestersday. Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton said changing winds had made the fires unpredictable.