More than 20 firefighters remain on the ground at a large blaze near Dunback in East Otago this morning. The vegetation fire on a rural property near McLay Rd was first reported about 9.20pm on Thursday and was initially thought to be extinguished by fire crews that day. Three helicopters were employed to support two crews of firefighters from the Waitaki brigade on the ground on Friday, before one helicopter was stood down. Four helicopters remained on standby. The fire was thought to have started as the result of an electrical fault, the spokeswoman said.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 19, 2019 21:45 UTC