Burn-off spreads into trees

Rural firefighters were greeted by the sight of a row of burning trees yesterday when they arrived at a rural fire near Georgetown, 22km inland from Oamaru.

Firefighters are pictured extinguishing the trees near Uxbridge Rd.

Waitaki Civil Defence emergency services manager Chris Raine said firefighters were called after a burn-off ''got away'' from a local farmer.

''It's travelled on the wind and got away from him. We are using portable pumps. We are using soap to make the water wetter.''

Mr Raine said three crews from the Waitaki Rural Fire Force attended the blaze, which started about 3pm and was still being quelled three hours later.

A second fire was reported on the Glenavy side of the Waitaki River about 6pm, as crews were still dealing with the Georgetown fire.