Matt Sutton, of Dunedin, carries a wooden post as a team of volunteers restore a section of fencing fire destroyed on two sheep and beef farms in Nenthorn Valley. PHOTOS: ANNA WILSON
A wildfire left a path of destruction in its wake on two sheep and beef farms in East Otago last month. Shawn McAvinue talks to the affected farmers about the blaze killing a working dog and razing farm buildings and the amazing response from the community to help restore fencing.

A rural community is rallying after a wildfire killed a working dog and destroyed farm buildings in East Otago.

It was just after midnight on a gusty weekday morning last month, when farmer John Harvie was woken by a phone call.

On the other end was one of his staff, who called about "a glow in the sky", possibly a fire burning somewhere near the Harvie family farm in Nenthorn Valley, about 10km from Macraes.

Lachie Kain, of Middlemarch, snips fence wire.

Mr Harvie went outside for a look to see a large vegetation fire blazing about 50m from his home. "There were flames 40m-high and lots of glowing embers," he said.

He woke family members and residents in a cottage across the road.

Firefighters were called from Fire and Emergency New Zealand and OceanaGold’s Macraes gold mine.

The wind was gusting about 70kmh.

Thankfully, the wind direction sent the fire away from the house and towards a kale crop on his 1300ha sheep and beef farm, slowing the spread.

Duncan McGregor, of Macraes, carries steel fence posts.

"I don’t know where it would have gone otherwise — it could have been 20 times the size it was."

The fire killed his huntaway dog Zip and destroyed his shearer’s quarters, woolshed and workshop.

When the wind changed direction, the fire spread to a neighbouring farm, owned by Duncan and Georgie McGregor.

Mrs McGregor said the fire burnt about 60ha of their 1650ha sheep and beef property Havrincourt.

The fire advanced to paddocks of kale, which "thankfully" narrowed its spread.

Jess Cameron, 3, of Hyde, and Greta Wilson, 5, of Middlemarch, pitch in.

Fire damaged about 1.5km of fencing, about 60ha of pasture and 3ha of trees. About 800m of shared fencing between the two farms was destroyed.

The community rallied to replace the section of fencing last month.

Mrs McGregor said the community response was "amazing" as it was looking unlikely any of the losses would be covered by insurance. "The fact those guys have come and donated their time for us is massive," she said.

She especially thanked Middlemarch couple Bevan and Anna Wilson for organising the group of about 25 volunteers.

Mr Harvie and his wife Tricia also praised the volunteers.

Roddy Saunders, of Middlemarch, helps restore fencing which fire destroyed on two sheep and beef farms in Nenthorn Valley.

Mr Wilson, a Strath Taieri Rugby Club committee member, said both of the families impacted by the fire had given a lot to the club so the fencing was a way to be able to give something back as a wider community, as well as a club.

Mr Harvie said the fire was not being treated as suspicious.

He believed the source of the fire was an arcing powerline.

A Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing.

shawn.mcavinue@alliedpress.co.nz