Firefighters spent several hours fighting a large blaze in rural North Otago yesterday. Crews from the Kakanui Volunteer Rural Fire Force were called to the fire in Happy Valley Rd, near the intersection with Robertsons Rd, near Kakanui, about 11.20am, and were joined a short time later by crews from the Waitaki Rural Volunteer Fire Force. The blaze of about 21ha was sparked by a controlled stubble burn-off that started to spread when it was fanned by strong wind gusts, that sent flames leaping several metres into the air. Flames leap skyward during a blaze at a farm near Kakanui in North Otago yesterday. Large plumes of dark smoke could be seen from the Kakanui township during the blaze.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 12, 2020 15:33 UTC