Firefighters are continuing to battle a massive bushfire on the slopes of Mt Crichton today, almost 48 hours after it was first reported.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) said six helicopters and seven ground crews have been working throughout the day to control the blaze, which was first reported at 4.35pm Friday afternoon.
Sunday morning FENZ Incident Controller Mark Mawhinney said weather conditions had been favourable overnight, but winds are set to pick up throughout the day.
"Firefighting efforts are concentrating on containing the fire to the Twenty Five Mile Creek catchment and creating a blacked-out perimeter, to reduce the risk of a breakout later in the day," he said.
In a 3pm update, Mawhinney said crews had been working hard to stop the fire's spread, which can potentially pick up over afternoon periods as wind increases, humidity levels drop, and vegetation dries out.
He said they were now identifying the resources they need to continue their efforts tomorrow.
Most of the damage has been on Mt Creighton Station with approximately 200 hectares of manuka and tussock grassland burnt.
"No structures have been affected but some fences have been burnt," Mawhinney said.
The fire has now been burning for more than 46 hours.
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