FIRE RAGES IN CROMWELL
FURTHER fires plagued Otago during heat and high winds yesterday.
An 8ha scrub fire engulfed Cornish Point, near Cromwell, and firefighters also attended a tractor fire on Benhar Rd, near Balclutha.
Multiple crews and helicopters had to contend with the
Cornish Point blaze after Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) was called to scene about 12.44pm.
Cornish Point is on the true right of Lake Dunstan, across the lake from the Old Cromwell Heritage Precinct.
Flames and smoke could be seen from the Cromwell lookout on State Highway 8 and several people stopped to watch.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said four choppers and nine pumps and tankers were still battling the blaze at 4pm, but it was believed to be contained by last night.
Hot spots had been hard to access due to surrounding power lines.
Crews were stood down for the night except for two people tasked with monitoring it overnight.
Firefighters were expected to return this morning to continue work dampening hot spots.
No details were available about the possible cause of the fire.
A threeday total fire ban was declared for the Central Otago region, which began on Saturday.
Balclutha firefighters attended the Benhar tractor fire about 5.30pm.
The fire destroyed the tractor and briefly engulfed neighbouring trees and scrub as high winds fanned the flames.
Noone was injured in the incident.
A council cleanup crew was summoned to address a fuel spill extending about 350m from State Highway 1 to the scene.
Initial assessments attributed the cause of the fire to a fuel or oil leak from the vehicle.