Spate of fires may have been ignited by steam train

The fire service was called to the fires on SH1 between Weston and Maheno yesterday. Photo / File

A spate of fires that ignited along the side of a road and railway track in the South Island yesterday is believed to have been started by a steam train.

The fire service was called to the fires on SH1 between Weston and Maheno yesterday at 2.30pm.

Sixteen appliances attended from around the Oamaru area as well as various rural fire crews. A number of helicopters were deployed because there were reports of fire threatening properties and crops.

No houses were evacuated or property lost but there were reports of some barley crops being threatened.

By 5pm yesterday the fire was almost under control although the fire crews were still fully committed.

A fire service spokesman said the fires were centered along the length of the rail way line and early indications suggested that they had been ignited by a steam train.

Police were involved in traffic control because of the large volume of smoke that was causing traffic disruption.

Local farmers supplied water to the fire engines.