Fire crews contain 1.5ha Canterbury forest blaze

Fire crews are battling a large blaze covering about 1.5ha of a Canterbury forest. 

The fire started at the Dalethorpe forest on Dalethorpe Rd near Springfield in the Selwyn district about 4.30am on Tuesday.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said crews responded to the blaze after reports from truck drivers who were picking up logs and could smell smoke.

The fire is in an area of already harvested trees and debris, he said.

Fire crews from the Springfield and Sheffield stations fought the blaze before forestry firefighters arrived.

The spokesman said the firefighters are now supporting a helicopter which is maintaining the perimeter of the blaze.

"It is my understanding the fire has been contained and is not spreading," he said. 

"We will be bringing in heavy machinery to create fire breaks."

There is nothing to suggest the fire is suspicious at this stage, the spokesman said.