About 30 firefighters are working to put out a fire that's been burning in a forestry plantation near the Canterbury town of Fairlie since about midday yesterday.
Fire and Emergency shift manager Andrew Norris said the fire has been contained by the nine crews on site.
He says they're breaking apart and dampening down piles of old tree branches and other debris to stop it from spreading.
Earlier, he said four houses threatened by the fire are now safe.
Diggers and dozens of firefighters fought the blaze throughout yesterday. It burnt 10 hectares of slash in a forestry plantation.
Efforts were hampered by strong winds which stopped helicopters from flying.
Crews were also at the site of a fire at Waikouaiti north of Dunedin yesterday.
Fire and Emergency said usually by this time of year the fire danger drops but tinder dry conditions and winds means fire can spread quickly.
It said all Canterbury and Otago fire permits are suspended until Tuesday.
