Firefighters in Twizel have contained a 15 hectare scrub fire that was threatening houses in a new subdivision.
The fire started just after 5pm and a number of roads were closed and residents evacuatated.
A Fire Service spokesman said those evacuations and closures would remain in place for at least the next hour.
The initial fire was almost contained when, at 6pm, there was a change in wind direction that pushed it toward homes in The Drive subdivision.
Firefighters were assisted by several local farmers who either used tractors to make fire breaks with ploughs or operated water spray devices from boom systems attached to the vehicles.
