Highway reopens after fires

Fire crews have extinguished multiple scrub fires between Templeton and Rolleston, southwest of Christchurch. The fires started along the railway lines near State Highway 1 on Main South Rd just after 12.40pm yesterday. Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman Andrew Norris said five crews and two water tankers were sent to battle multiple fires along the train tracks. A train heading south through Rolleston was believed to be the cause of the fires, he said. Main South Rd was closed for a short time but reopened just before 1.30pm.