Firefighters extinguish Canterbury blaze

Firefighters are inspecting the site of a blaze in Canterbury that burnt nearly 60 hectares of trees and pasture in the days before Christmas, but the fire appears to be out.

The fire near Leithfield Beach, 40km northeast of Christchurch, broke out in a forest on Wednesday afternoon, spreading quickly to a neighbouring pine plantation.

The fire was 80 per cent contained by Christmas Eve, and the number of crews reduced to about 20 firefighters putting out the last of the blaze and dampening down hot spots.

Tomorrow, thermal imaging would be used to check if there were any hot areas underground that could flare up, regional fire committee spokesman Tony Teeling told NZPA.

A number of firefighters from Marlborough, Northland and Rotorua had been called in to help until December 27, to allow local crews to spend time with family.

A fire near Waimate, 45km southwest of Timaru, which started last Tuesday was also out, having burnt about 175 ha of gorse and native vegetation.

- NZPA