Evacuations were underway in Central Otago on Tuesday evening after a large grass fire broke out in the Springvale area, threatening nearby properties.
According to a report by 1News, Police said they were alerted to the blaze around 4 pm in the Springvale area, specifically near Brandy Hill and McArthur's Ridge. Authorities quickly moved to secure the area as the fire intensified.
"At this time, Springvale Rd is closed, and police are evacuating residents along the road," a spokesperson said.
"Police are supporting the Fire and Emergency-led response," 1News has quoted.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) confirmed that 13 crews and four helicopters were working to contain the fire at Springvale, near Clyde, with an additional five crews on the way.
"The fire is emitting a lot of smoke which is drifting towards Alexandra," it said, as quoted by 1News.
"If you are in the vicinity of the smoke, please stay inside and keep windows closed," quoted 1News.
FENZ said it was working alongside police to support evacuations of affected properties in the surrounding area.
Residents living nearby have been advised to exercise extreme caution when carrying out any hot works, including welding, grinding, or lawn mowing, and have been urged to avoid the area while emergency services continue to battle the blaze.
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