A fire which broke out behind Wanaka's Ballantyne Rd industrial area was only metres away from engulfing two properties yesterday afternoon when it was extinguished.
The blaze flashed across 16ha of tinder-dry pasture to threaten the Riverbank Rd houses and a new vineyard, after an engine spark led to a pile of tyres catching fire behind an industrial yard in Frederick St.
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Upper Clutha's three fire brigades rushed to contain the flames, as a strengthening northwest wind drove the fires towards the properties.
Workers, contractors, and tradesmen from Ballantyne Rd industrial yards joined the fight, with several front-end loaders, water sprayers and concrete-mixer trucks used to create fire breaks and douse hotspots.
The flames took just minutes to race about 500m across parched paddocks and leap into a stand of pine trees close to the two houses.
Wanaka Fire Brigade chief Steve Trevathan said the fire was an accident and served as a dangerous reminder to everyone of the "extremely extreme" fire risk.
The fire appeared to have started from a spark from a tractor engine which ignited dry grass, which in turn ignited a pile of tyres, Mr Trevathan said.
An investigation into the fire was pending, he said.
Firefighters dampened down hot spots throughout yesterday evening.
The Kurow Fire Brigade took about 30 minutes to get a fire on the Waitaki River bed under control yesterday afternoon.
Kurow Fire Chief John Sturgeon said the cause of the fire, in grass, scrub and trees, was yet to be determined.
The brigade was called shortly after 4pm.
The fire could have put nearby houses at risk if it had got out of control, Mr Sturgeon said.
The two blazes are the most recent in a spate of fires across Otago's tinder-dry country, as the region swelters after a month of high temperatures and little rainfall.
Otago's fire rash
February 15: 6ha vegetation fire at Lake McKay Station, near Luggate.
February 23: Mount Allan forest fire near Mosgiel.
February 25: Two suspicious fires, Wenita forest, Kaitangata.
February 27: Suspicious house fire, Kaitangata.
March 8: Two Ranfurly businesses destroyed by fire.
March 9: Bungalow near Dunback badly damaged by fire.
March 9: Large hay barn fire near Balclutha.
March 9: Truck carrying load of straw ignites near Weston.
March 10: Waitaki riverbed fire near Kurow.
March 10: 16ha of farmland burns near Wanaka.
