Fire engines and helicopters are battling a fire in Cromwell, Central Otago ripping across farmland. A Central Otago landowner whose property was scorched by fire thought a plane had crashed into the hillside when he heard an "almighty explosion" before the blaze broke out. Shane Marsh was in his lounge about 1pm on Monday when he heard the noise and ran outside to see workers nearby rock blasting. READ MORE: Fire rips through Central Otago farmland after 'massive bang' heard over Cromwell"Fire crews came up and said we should leave," he said. Jo McKenzie-McLean/Stuff Fire crews battle a blaze across 8 hectares of farmland near Cromwell, Central Otago, on Monday.

Source: Stuff November 05, 2019 04:11 UTC