Dozens of firefighters fought near simultaneous grass fires at Luggate and Tarras that destroyed 15ha of farmland.
At their peak, up to 11 fire appliances plus several water tankers were fighting the fires, which were contained before darkness fell.
Otago Rural Fire Authority crews remained at the scene overnight to dampen down hot spots, Otago Rural Fire Authority principal rural fire officer Stephanie Rotarangi said.
The two fires began within half an hour of each other. The first, on a property on the Luggate-Cromwell Rd, was called in at 3.19pm.
That fire was estimated to cover about 5ha and as firefighters fought it, another fire, estimated to be twice the size, broke out on a property on the Tarras-Cromwell Rd at 3.55pm.
It was too early to comment on the cause of the fires, Dr Rotarangi said.
Six crews were sent home and five crews remained on the scene of both fires late last night.
Despite fighting two fire fronts in close proximity, ''we still had good coverage across the region''.
However, she acknowledged firefighters were ''getting tired''.
''For some of these guys it is not their first time out today.
''These guys are volunteers and we are grateful for the job that they do. They are hardworking and dedicated.''
She urged anyone interested in becoming a volunteer to do so, ''as it is a great season to be getting started''.
Volunteer firefighters from Blackstone were called to a vegetation fire on the side of Ida Valley-Omakau Rd near Omakau about 6am yesterday.
The small fire was caused by a bird caught in power lines, a Fire Service spokeswoman said.
Firefighters soon extinguished the fire and left by about 6.30am.
Earlier, firefighters attended two open-fire barbecues lit near Cromwell, as well as several other small vegetation fires in Otago.
Otago Rural Fire Authority deputy principal rural fire officer Jamie Cowan said it was frustrating that people were not getting the message that open fires were prohibited.
Since Christmas Day, rural firefighters had attended about 90 fires, any of which could have become dangerous.
''We are very lucky at this stage not to have had anything that we have really had to chase,'' he said.
Mr Cowan had a simple message: ''The only flame we want to see in Otago is a gas barbecue.''
There seemed to be some campers who ''have not quite got the message''.
Any open fire in Otago is prohibited at present.
