Firefighters combat South Canterbury blaze

Ten helicopters and one fixed wing aircraft are today fighting a fire being fanned by a northwesterly wind in South Canterbury.

The blaze spread through pine forests at the Mount Cook Station and firefighters are now trying to cut it off before it reaches Braemar Station.

"We have 60 personnel working and the fire covers about 200 hectares," South Canterbury rural fire officer Rob Hands said.

The wind was making it difficult to fight the fire but fire fighters were making headway and were hopeful the fire could be stopped at a creek before reaching Braemar Station, he said.

National Rural Fire Officer - Murray Dudfield said the fire was not yet contained but large parts of the perimeter had been brought under control.

The fire has so far burnt 500 hectares of forest and scrub.

Mr Dudfield said fire fighters were hoping the drizzle falling in Central Otago would make it to the basin.

"It's probably 3 - 5km away from any buildings so there's a reasonable buffer zone," he said.

The cause of the fire was unknown but the fire service would be talking to some people who had been working in the area.

The fire service was called to the blaze around 6.30pm yesterday.

- NZPA