Firefighters are battling a large blaze which has taken hold of a forestry site near Blenheim.
The fire, around 80m by 40m, started shortly after 4am on the banks of the Wairau River.
It was sparked on a forestry block, in a section where workers bring the felled logs, southern fire communications shift manager Brent Dunn said. He said there was a lot of logging "slash", or debris, in the area.
Firefighters also had to face difficult terrain to reach the blaze, which is on a 30 degree slope, he said.
The Fire Service has sent eight fire engines and two helicopters to the scene in a bid to dampen the flames.
