Helicopters sent to fight fire near Kaikōura that closed State Highway 1

Four helicopters have been sent to fight a fire that has closed State Highway 1 north of Kaikōura...
Four helicopters have been sent to fight a fire that has closed State Highway 1 north of Kaikōura. Photo: Tess Ritchie
Four helicopters have been sent to fight a fire that has closed State Highway 1 north of Kaikōura.

Fire crews were called to the blaze on the hillside about 5km north of the Kekerengu Store on SH1 about 1.55am on Wednesday.

It started from a controlled burn that flared up overnight due to high winds, a Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said.

The fire is thought to have reached a size of about 20 hectares.

"At that stage, the fire was some distance from the road but overnight it has been fanned by the winds and has grown in size."

SH1 between Clarence and Wharanui at the Tirohanga Stream Bridge was closed to traffic this morning but was fully reopened about 10.40am.

The spokesman said Fenz have spoken to the Department of Conservation as some of the fire has burnt through land it owns.

A KiwiRail spokesperson said the Main North Line between Kekerengu and Wharanui is closed.

"There is currently no impact to our scheduled train services."

A resident says the fire is huge after being blown all night by "dynamic" winds.

The women has only just managed to get through the road closure for her job at the Kekerengu Store.

The Fenz spokesman said four helicopters were sent to the scene at first light.

Strong winds and the fire being on steep country terrain is making it difficult to contain, he said.