Firefighters are battling a large blaze at a farm near
Ashburton, believed to have been sparked by a controlled
burn-off.
Four fire engines and five tankers are at the Chertsey Kyle
Road fire which has spread down a 400 metre tree line and
destroyed a hay stack.
Chief fire officer Donald Dunlea said it was "a bit of a
disaster", and firefighters were working to stop the fire
from spreading into a nearby paddock where there was a
cottage.
The hay stack is being pulled apart by contractors and will
take hours to contain.
Mr Dunlea said the farmer owner was carrying out a controlled
burn off in a paddock and the tree line caught fire and
spread to the hay stack.
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