Busy weekend for Canterbury fire crews

Photo: ODT files
Photo: ODT files
Firefighters tackled four blazes in rural Canterbury over the weekend.

It took five fire engines, five tankers and a helicopter to control a blaze in Loburn, which was put out on Sunday. There was no damage to nearby houses.

Firefighters also spent more than three hours battling a blaze in Darfield on Saturday.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Brent Dunn said they were called to the fire near the intersection of Clintons and Bealey Rds just after 1pm.

"One stubble paddock was on fire, a hedge was also involved. Seven fire appliances attended the job."

Crews from Darfield, Kirwee and Hororata attended the blaze.

Two other fires in Rangiora and Kirwee started after car fires spread to vegetation.

Both fires were put out, but hot spots were still being dampened down in Rangiora on Sunday.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the country still has enough resources to cope should a large wildfire break out.

Crews from NZ continue to battle the bushfires that have been burning in Australia since September.

Defence Minister Ron Mark has asked the Defence Force for a national fire risk assessment to prevent a disaster like the fires seen in Australia.

Tasman district principal fire officer Ian Reade said the fire risk there was not as severe this year in part because the smoke from Australia's fires has kept temperatures down.

The haze caused by the Australian fires has caused an orange sky across much of NZ in recent weeks which has dimmed the sun.

Additional reporting - Devon Bolger