Chief Fire Officer Graeme Ferguson said firefighters were called to a grass fire on the McKay Rd farm about 1pm.
He said the fire was caused by a magpie which received a fatal shock when it hit powerlines then fell on to the grass paddock on the outskirts of Balclutha.
The charred bird sparked a fire covering about 200sq m, prompting the farmer to call for help. Mr Ferguson said the farmer was quick to spray water on the fire, and praised him for his actions.
It was not the first time a singed magpie had caused a fire on the farm, he said.
Six firefighters, a fire engine and a tanker were at the fire for about an hour.
Mr Ferguson said South Otago people were ‘‘very aware'' of the dry conditions, and the brigade had not attended many fires this summer.
He advised residents to ‘‘treat everything with a bit of caution''.
