Fires keep South Island crews busy

Firefighters remain at the scene of several blazes. Photo / Bevan Conley

Firefighters remain at the scene of several blazes in the South Island this morning.

Apart from battling the huge Marlborough blaze, smaller fires kept firefighters busy overnight.

At Tiwai Rd, Southland, a fire was reported yesterday evening.

The fire was caused by "a whole lot of piles of rubbish vegetation that the wind whipped" a Fire Southern Communications spokesman said.

He said the Fire Service had handed this morning over responsibility for fighting the blaze to the Rural Fire Authority.

"There's still work to be done down there but the majority of the [extinguishing] is done."

Meanwhile, a fire at Dipton, Southland, was monitored overnight. The Invercargill Command Unit was on its way to the scene.