High winds fan Canterbury scrub fires

Canterbury firefighters contained one large scrub blaze last night, only to have another flare up elsewhere.

A fire over 55 hectares of grassland and scrub in the Ruataniwha Conservation Park, bordering lakes Ohau and Pukaki in the Mackenzie Basin was battled all day yesterday, and brought under control late yesterday afternoon.

Fears that high winds overnight would re-ignite the blaze proved unfounded, Conservation Department senior technical fire officer Tony Teeling said, despite gusts of up to 70km/h.

A little rain had also helped keep the hot spots under control.

However, just before nightfall last night, firefighters became aware of a second fire on land under the department's jurisdiction, this time in the mid Canterbury high country, near the Wilberforce River.

Mr Teeling said the land was dominated by heavy scrub, and the fire had stretched over 10-20 hectares last night.

"We couldn't do anything with it last night because of the winds and the darkness," he said.

Three helicopters and about 30 firefighters had gone to the site this morning to see how to tackle the fire.

"We're gearing up for a bit of an interesting day," Mr Teeling said.

"Hopefully the winds back off this afternoon, which is what is supposed to happen."

Causes for the fires have not yet been established.

Meanwhile in South Otago, fire crews were battling a fire in the Catlins area, which has been alight since Thursday.

High winds forced helicopters out of the area yesterday, but they returned early this morning.

The winds are forecast to remain, but rain is also predicted.

- NZPA