Southern beach fire burns, fuelled by summer windsRobyn Edie Fire crews work to contain a fire at Sandy Point, near Invercargill. A large vegetation fire fuelled by nor'westerly winds is burning at a remote Southland beach. The fire at Sandy Point on Oreti Beach had burnt up to four hectares of the sandy terrain, 10 kilometres west of Invercargill. Principal rural fire officer Elton Smith was on the scene and said they had battled the blaze all morning. The 26km stretch of beach is better known as the location for the Burt Munro film The World's Fastest Indian, where Munro set two New Zealand Open Beach records.

Source: Stuff January 15, 2017 20:44 UTC