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Firefighters battling a huge scrub fire near Invercargill have called for reinforcements amid fears dry conditions and predicted high winds could feed the flames.
The fire has spread over about 40 hectares around Sandy Point Road, a coastal area behind Otatara, after being reported about 1.20pm.
Strong north-west gales are forecast in the area later today.
Newstalk ZB reported that firefighters had asked for a further three helicopters to join three choppers already fighting the blaze with monsoon buckets of water.
Two Fire Service pumps, three water tankers and two rural fire teams are also at the site of the fire, which is in scrub, bush and windrows bordering a plantation area.
The Fire Service has said no residential properties are threatened.
- NZPA / NEWSTALK ZB
