The large vegetation fire which has been burning at Southbridge in Selwyn, Canterbury since yesterday afternoon is now contained.

Incident Controller Lou Ander says most firefighting crews have been stood down with some heavy machinery work continuing to turn over remaining hotspots.

‘All roads are now open again, and I expect to be able to hand back the fireground to the landowner this afternoon,’ he says.

‘There’ll be some smoke visible from the fireground as remaining hotspots are extinguished over the next few days. This is expected.'

Lou Ander says the cause of the fire won’t be known until the investigation underway is completed.

This will be the last update for this fire unless there is a significant development.

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