A Dunedin man who tried to fight an out-of-control blaze was taken to Dunedin Hospital yesterday with burns to his face and hands.
Otago deputy principal rural fire officer Graham Still said a burn-off on Saddle Hill got out of control.
Firefighters from Mosgiel and Lookout Point were called at 1.30pm and firefighters from Roslyn, Brighton and the Wakari rural fire crew were called to assist.
When firefighters arrived, about 1ha of scrub and pine trees was burning and the fire was threatening powerlines.
A firefighter called the lines company but no power outage was necessary, Mr Still said.
The landowner had tried to extinguish the blaze before firefighters arrived.
The fire was contained by 4pm and the Wakari crew remained to ''mop up'' until nightfall, Mr Still said.
A St John spokeswoman said the man who tried to fight the blaze had minor burns to his face and hands and was taken to Dunedin Hospital by ambulance.
