Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews continue to battle a large vegetation fire at Southbridge in the Selwyn District in Canterbury today.

Assistant Commander Kevin McCombe says the fire is currently controlled to 38 hectares with a perimeter of 2.6 kilometres.

‘It is deep seated in mostly pine forestry slash, and we have 30 firefighters, 10 trucks and heavy machinery crews currently working hard turning over logs to extinguish the fire,’ he says.

Two helicopters are on standby.

Fire and Emergency was alerted to the fire around 3pm yesterday afternoon which also destroyed two utility sheds.

Kevin McCombe says Fire investigators will be arriving on scene later this morning to investigate the cause and origin of the fire

He urges people to avoid lighting any fires in Canterbury today.

‘High winds are forecast again today, and we also urge people to check any existing burn piles to make sure they are fully extinguished.

'Windy weather is the perfect condition for old fires to reignite and escape.

'If you’ve been burning vegetation any time in the last few months or so, check the fire is completely extinguished.

'If there’s hot ash, and it’s safe to do so, dig into it, spread it out and pour water over it.’

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