KEY POINTS:
A large grass fire near Christchurch has stopped trains and is disrupting rush-hour traffic.
Fire communications shift manager Jan Wills said there were two fire engines at the fire near Hornby Mall.
The fire had also closed the Main South Rd.
Ms Wills said Main South Rd was "basically a state highway" and was the main route for people travelling south out of Christchurch.
"With peak-hour traffic it's a bit of a kerfuffle, anyone who lives south would be travelling home that way. There's a fair bit of traffic at this time of night."
A number of roads were closed and diversions were now in place and police had been called in to direct traffic, Ms Wills said.
The nearby train line was also closed as fire hoses were running across the tracks.
Ms Wills said it was unclear what had caused the fire.
"It was 30-something degrees today with northwest winds so anything could have started it."
There had been "quite a few" fires in Canterbury today.
"Probably about a dozen, including the small fires. It's been busier than average," Ms Wills said.
She said the fire should be under control within an hour.
Meanwhile, police are advising motorists to avoid the area.
Inspector Warren Kemp said smoke was causing visibility problems in the area.
- NZPA
