Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon
Fire crews south of Ashburton have been battling a large rural fire burning through around 14,000 hay bales since late on Wednesday night.
Fire and Emergency first received a 111 call to the blaze in two sheds at an agricultural contracting yard in Winslow.
The two buildings have a combined total of around 214,000 hay bales inside them.
The fire covered an area of 150m by 25m.
Smoke from the blaze could be seen some distance away. Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon
Seven tankers, three fire trucks, two rural fire trucks and a command unit were at the scene.
Fire and Emergency said mid-morning on Thursday that crews had contained the blaze and diggers were being brought in to remove the bales.
Earlier, FENZ shift manager Simon Lyford said that people travelling in the area might see some smoke and the occasional flame.
Lyford said there was no risk to life or homes, however, there were other buildings nearby on the yard that the fire crews were protecting.
FENZ said mid-morning on Thursday the fire had been contained. Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon
