Firefighters have contained a grass fire at Ardgour Station, near Tarras, that burned 80ha of land.
Three helicopters with monsoon buckets battled the blaze this afternoon alongside about 50 firefighters from Otago Rural Fire, the New Zealand Fire Service and the Department of Conservation.
Another four Otago Rural Fire crews are on their way to the scene to take over the night shift and the three helicopters will remain working until nightfall.
It is estimated that about 80 hectares of grassland and scrub has been burnt.
Principal rural fire officer Stephanie Rotarangi said this evening it appeared the fire started following a "farming operation", but inquiries would continue tomorrow.
"I expect this is a stressful time for the landowner concerned [but] conditions are still very dry and the risk of accidental ignition is high."
