A helicopter has been called in to help manage a controlled burn-off on Ben Lomond, Queenstown, this morning. The burn-off began yesterday evening and has kept within permit limits, Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Andrew Norris said. But there was a slight danger on the Arthurs Point side of the fire extending past that boundary, so a helicopter had been called in to combat any spread. Last night, Queenstown Lakes District Council issued a statement on social media to reassure residents it was a controlled burn-off on the Ben Lomond Station. Fenz asked people to check the forecast before burning and to ensure no strong winds were predicted for the 48 hours after burning, Otago Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer Jason Sarich said.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 08, 2020 21:33 UTC