Fire crews extinguish out of control burn-off in rural Otago

Tuesday, 12 March 2019

Fire crews have extinguished an out-of-control burn-off near Dunedin.

Emergency services were called to the grass fire in a rural block off Otokia Kuri Bush Rd, near Taieri Mouth, just before 2.30pm on Tuesday.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman Brent Dunn said eight crews and two helicopters from Dunedin, Waihola and Brighton were initially sent to battle the blaze.

Fire crews and helicopters with monoon buckets battle a blaze near Taieri Mouth, Dunedin.

They had extinguished the fire shortly after 7pm.

Dunn said the grass and gorse fire, which had spread over about 1 hectare, was believed to have started from an out-of-control burn-off.

A helicopters with monoon bucket is prepared before battling a blaze near Taieri Mouth, Dunedin.

A lifestyle property was several hundred metres from the blaze, which appeared to be confined to a gorse covered gully by 4pm.

Dunn said no structures had been threatened or damaged by the fire.

The grass fire ignited in a rural block off Otokia-Kuri Bush Rd, near the Taieri Mouth.

Fire crews would return to dampen down and check on the site early on Wednesday morning.

Rural fire investigators would also return to determine the cause of the blaze.