Helicopters have been used to battle the wind and contain a large flare up of the fire burning since Tuesday in Hanmer Springs.
Seven homes have been evacuated this morning, after a strong northwester re-ignited hot spots around the perimeter of the blaze that has already burnt through 75-hectares of land.North Canterbury Conservation Operations Manager Kingsley Timpson says the winds were predicted, which gave firefighters a head start and they had helicopters in the air that could arm wrestle the wind, and shelter the fire.
He says they're expecting the gusty conditions to come and go throughout the day.
