Strong winds are fanning the flames of an out-of-control fire near Macraes, inland from Palmerston, Otago, this morning.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokesman said they were called to the fire in the Red Bank Rd area about 6.30am.
The fire started as a controlled burn, but quickly went beyond the intended boundary, he said.
In an update Fenz said the blaze was out of control.