The summer fire season appears to have started early in the south, with firefighters tackling a forestry plantation fire in North Canterbury.
The fire is burning in a block of forest at View Hill, around 15km west of the town of Oxford in the foothills of the Southern Alps.
Fire and Emergency spokesperson Simon Lyford said the fire was “contained but not under control”.
He added the blaze was “only 80% under control” and that two helicopters previously working on the fire had been released.
“Remaining firefighters are working to fully extinguish the blaze and hand the land back over to the property owners by the end of the day.”
Two trucks and two tankers responded to the fire when it was reported just after 8.30am this morning.
Another two trucks and tankers were called in shortly after.
