Otago scrub fire burning since Friday

Otago fire crews are still on the scene of a large scrub fire in Hyde which has been burning since Friday night.

Dunedin City Council principal rural fire officer Graeme Still said 23 people were dampening down hot spots at the fire, which started after a controlled burn on Four Mile Rd got out of control.

A fire communications spokesman said the fire service was called at 5.46pm on Friday. The fire was located halfway between Middlemarch and Ranfurly.

The fire had burned a 1500ha area of tussock and scrub, and a small part of a forest block, Still said.

It had been too dark to attempt to put out the fire on Friday.

Yesterday morning six helicopters, 40 ground crew, eight 4WD heavy appliances and nine smoke chasers had got the fire under control.

The fire was ''fair humming'' when they arrived, he said.

Still said Dunedin City Council rural fire, Department of Conservation and Waitaki district fire crews had been on the scene.

They were likely to be there for the rest of today, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News