A team of up to seven firefighters was patrolling the Hunter Hills above Waimate last night keeping a close watch on a big fire which started on Tuesday night and by yesterday had burnt 178ha of mainly broom, gorse and scrub.
Yesterday, seven helicopters and up to 62 firefighters from across Canterbury started to battle the blaze from 5am, by late morning managing to contain it within the area already burnt.
The fire, which burnt eastwards with flames up to 5m high, was pushed by strong northwesterly winds and temperatures in the mid-20s (degC).
The blaze was clearly visible from Waimate and SH1.
By about 11am yesterday, conditions had eased and firefighters were able to contain the fire, but regional fire incident controller Bryan Jensen was worried about strong southwest weather conditions late yesterday which could push the fire back into extensive forestry blocks on the Hunter Hills.
However, that did not happen and firefighters worked as long as they could through until dark to contain the blaze within the area already burnt.
They were helped by dropping temperatures as some rain fell.
Firefighters focused their efforts yesterday afternoon on creating a buffer along the back of the fire area to protect extensive forests to the west, as well as coping with sporadic outbreaks within the fire area.
Because of the size of the fire, a regional incident management team was brought in, comprising personnel from seven agencies.
Last night, weary firefighters, some working since dawn, withdrew.
The area was being patrolled in case of reignition.
At one stage, the fire leapt across SH82 in the Waimate Gorge, burning a steep face of scrub and gorse.
Visibility at times through the Waimate Gorge was severely reduced, although traffic kept flowing.
The road had been closed on Tuesday night.
The land over which the fire sped was a combination of privately owned land and Department of Conservation reserve, including a significant stand of lowland totara, some more than 100 years old.
Firefighters were working to protect the Studholme Bush scenic reserve, about 2km inland from Waimate.
There were also other areasof native bush which, alongwith the totara, remarkably appeared unscathed because of the high moisture content in the vegetation.
Also at risk was 120ha of 29-year-old forestry.
One farmer estimated he had lost about 30 sheep, including some which had to be shot after being burnt when they ran up against a fence trying to escape.
Mr Jensen said the cause of the fire had not been confirmed, despite speculation it was started by arcing from electricity lines in the wind.
The cause of the blaze was being investigated by two fire investigators.
After the fire was reported at 6.30pm on Tuesday, efforts made to contain it were hampered by high winds and darkness, until resuming in earnest at dawn yesterday.
The forecast southwesterly change late yesterday was described as "good and bad" by Mr Jensen.
"It will lower temperatures and raise humidity, but could push the fire back in the opposite direction, blowing back into forests," he said.
That had the "potential to go a long way" along the Hunter Hills.
Late yesterday morning and during the afternoon, most of the helicopters, along with firefighters and bulldozers, were consolidating the gains made and concentrating on creating a firebreak between the burnt-out area and the forests.
Helicopters were loading up with fire suppressant mixed by the Waimate Fire Brigade on the Waimate High School's sports field before flying back out to bomb the blaze.
