A discarded cigarette butt is the likely cause of a roadside fire that destroyed a belt of trees and a hectare of grass on Opaki-Kaiparoro Rd, in rural Masterton, late Sunday afternoon.
Three fire engines from the Masterton Fire Service, the Mauriceville Fire Party and a tanker from Carterton Fire Brigade were summoned to the blaze which broke out about 5.20pm.
Masterton station officer Doug Flowerday said the fire spread into quite steep country and took until late into the night to bring completely under control.
He said no homes, sheds or other buildings were threatened and the blaze was restricted to a belt of trees and pasture land.
A carelessly discarded butt was the likely cause and he urged people to be vigilant as the whole of the district is subject to a total fire ban.
