KEY POINTS:
Firefighters are battling a large blaze threatening a house south of Dunsandel, about 46km southwest of Christchurch.
Fire Service southern communications centre supervisor Andrew Norris said the fire was reported by a neighbour about 12.15pm.
It had started in a paddock on a rural property in Sharlands Rd, about 6km south of Dunsandel, and had spread to a shelter belt about 50m from a house.
Fire units from Dunsandel, Burnham and Rakaia were battling the fire.
Mr Norris said he had no information yet as to how the blaze started.
- NZPA
