Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews have contained a vegetation fire in Sheffield, Canterbury.

Crews were first alerted to the fire at the Waimakariri riverbed, near the Waimakariri Gorge Bridge, around 9pm last night.

Incident Controller Graeme Knight says the fire is approximately 60 hectares in size and has burnt through gorse, broom, and pine trees.

"We have around 50 firefighters on the ground today working hard, supported by three helicopters and heavy machinery," he says.

Graeme says crews monitored the fire ground overnight as conditions were too dangerous for active firefighting.

Work is taking place to establish the cause of the fire, and crews are expected to remain on site today and tomorrow.

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