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Fenz has posted this photograph of the fire in Ben Lomand, a mountain near Queenstown, one of two fires caused by high winds that caused controlled burns in Otago on Wednesday.
Two fires have devastated 1,800 hectares of the Otago highlands.
Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) was called into a runaway burn in Macraes, about 50 kilometers north of Dunedin, at 6.30am on Wednesday.
The fire, which burned 800ha of farmland, was still active at 5pm on Wednesday, a Fenz spokeswoman said.
A fire in Ben Lomond, which is visible from Queenstown, is estimated to have burned up to 1,000 hectares.
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That fire was contained, but two helicopters remain on hold.
Meanwhile, three helicopters and two firefighting ground crews remain on the scene in Macraes.
Strong westerly winds hampered the firefighters’ efforts, and crews waited for a front to the south to help contain the fire.
The firefighters returned in the morning to cushion the critical points.
Highland land managers in Otago were urged to speak with Fenz before any burning.
Farmers carry out burns to clear the land, prepare it for replanting, maintaining the property, and increasing accessibility for the movement of livestock.
MetService metrologist Lewis Ferris said strong northwesterly winds were affecting much of the South Island, including Macraes, on Wednesday morning.
Fenz: Don’t light fires and check burn sites.
Fenz urged people not to light fires during this period of high winds and to review burned sites for the past three months.
That included turning the area over, making sure there was no heat remaining, and applying water until the area was cool to the touch.
A small amount of heat in a former fire site could reignite and winds could spread embers into surrounding vegetation, a spokeswoman said.
