The cordon keeping hundreds from their Port Hills homes may soon be reduced despite authorities holding fresh fears gusty winds may still pose a threat.
Christchurch Civil Defence says a key priority was to plan a way to allow evacuated residents back into their homes where it was safe do so.
Work was being done to shrink the cordoned area around the fire, and a decision on which cordons would be lifted was expected early this afternoon.
Some were starting to be relaxed just before midday.
However, the council said extreme heat in the ground and in vegetation still posed a risk of flare-ups.
Despite the morning drizzle the wind was expected to increase this afternoon and any dampness would be dried out.
Forecast northeasterly winds with gusts of up to 50kmh are expected across the city this afternoon.
Firefighters breathed a sigh of relief as they woke to slightly cooler weather and higher humidity today, but the fire was still being described as largely contained but not yet controlled.
Today diggers were creating firebreaks in several areas. Fire retardant would be dropped in areas the diggers could not access.
Meanwhile tonnes of fire-stopping foam to help put out the Port Hills wildfire is due to arrive in Christchurch late this afternoon.
The New Zealand Defence Force said the planeload of fire retardent material was scheduled to arrive at 5.20pm from Melbourne.
Around 15 tonnes of supplies is hoped to make a significant dent in helping extinguish the blaze that has now claimed 2075 ha.
Helicopters are surveyed fresh damage across the charred and smouldering Port Hills as the deadly fires continued to burn for a fifth day.
At least one Christchurch primary school is closed and about 1000 people cannot go back to their homes this morning. But last night was one of the quietest for firefighters since the destructive wildfire started on Monday.
Several large flare-ups overnight near Dyers Pass Rd and Summit Rd overnight were doused before they could breathe more life into the enormous blaze.
He said there were no reports of further damage overnight.
This morning Cashmere Primary School said it would not be reopening this week.
The Education Ministry said there were no other reports of schools or early childhood centres closing because of the fire.
Christchurch Civil Defence controller Dave Adamson said parts behind the cordons was still dangerous.
Ground crews and air crews will continue to operate today and focus on the perimeter of the fire zone.
Light rain has been falling across Christchurch overnight and this is expected to continue today, coupled with high humidity levels.
