Mt Allan

Firefighters say forecast rain for Monday will help them fully extinguish the huge forest fire that has raged near Dunedin this week, as the bill for battling the blaze has passed the half million dollar mark.

Residents evacuated from houses near the Mt Allan forest fire northwest of Dunedin have been allowed to return to their homes this morning.

From his vantage point from the temporary control centre at Taieri Banks Station, Dunedin City Council principal rural fire officer Graeme Still does not like the view unfolding beneath him.

Firefighters say strong winds are hampering their efforts to contain a forest fire north west of Dunedin and it may continue burning through to the weekend.

The shroud of smoke which drifted over Dunedin and Mosgiel from the Mount Allan forest fire yesterday prompted health warnings.

Our request for photographs of the Mount Allan forest fire has had a great response.

A blaze near Mosgiel has now consumed 700ha of forest, and two more houses have been evacuated.