South Island fires keep emergency crews busy

Photo / Wayne Drought

Fire crews around the South Island were kept busy with three large and a number of small fires overnight.

In the first fire, on Bluff Island, a digger and large shed caught alight, about 8.40pm, southern fire communications shift manager Riwai Grace said.

"It took the Bluff and Invercargill fire brigade just over an hour and a half to extinguish that blaze."

Crews were later called to a suspicious workshop and shed blaze in Wakefield, 25km south west of Nelson, about 9.20pm, he said.

Four volunteer brigades responded to the blaze.

It took about an hour and a half to extinguish, Mr Grace said.

Fire investigators would be at the scene today.

Crews were also called to a suspicious skip fire in central Christchurch overnight.

A fire was lit in the skip next to some businesses in Colombo Street, just after 4am, Mr Grace said.

"Thankfully the boys got there early because above the businesses are some apartments and there were people asleep in the building.

"So police are going to be checking that one out as well," he said.

There were also a number of small fires crews responded to through the night.

"It was a busy night."