Two helicopters and fire crews from around Otago are battling a large blaze after a burnoff raced out of control near Lawrence this afternoon. Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman Andrew Norris said crews from Lawrence, Waitahuna, Clutha Valley and Waihola had been dispatched to the scene near Roughan Rd, south-west of Lawrence towards Tuapeka Flat. A command unit from Dunedin Central Fire Station was about to be deployed as of just before 6pm, he said. The fire had spread to about 10 hectares and had started to consume a small strand of pine trees. However, Mr Norris said it was not thought more helicopters would be required to contain the blaze above the two already in the air.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 31, 2019 04:52 UTC