Firefighters remain at the scene of a 1.5km bush fire which ripped through native bush and threatened infrastructure near Waipori yesterday.
A fire investigator is expected to spend today at the scene as firefighters continue to contain the blaze which raged above the Waipori No 2 power station.
At its peak, a 1.5km front burnt 50m-100m deep and about 30 firefighters fought the blaze which took hold in native bush near Waipori Falls Rd.
Otago Rural Fire Authority principal rural fire officer Stephanie Rotorangi said firefighters were alerted to the blaze about 1.15am by Trustpower.
Crews from Balclutha, Lawrence and Outram helped the rural fire authority fight the blaze and were later joined by firefighters from City Forests, Wenita Forest Products and the Department of Conservation.
Trustpower community relations manager Graeme Purches said output from the combined Mahinerangi and Waipori power schemes was reduced to 60% as transmission lines from the Mahinerangi wind farm and Deep Stream hydro station were shut down because of the threat of the fire.
Inspectors spent yesterday checking the line to ensure it was undamaged and transmission was expected to resume yesterday afternoon, he said.
Dr Rotorangi said it was ''touch and go'' with the transmission lines at times and the fire burnt ''right up to the edge of a plantation forest''.
The fire was brought under control about 10.30am yesterday, she said.
''It's not out, but it's not moving.''
A fire investigator was at the scene yesterday and was expected to spend today investigating.
It was unclear what had caused the blaze, she said.
Outram Chief Fire Officer John Eaton described the fire as a ''pretty lucky save''.
The fire was about 500m from the power station, he said.
Dr Rotorangi said the fire provided a timely warning as temperatures began to rise.
''It's a clear reminder to us all that in the right conditions these fires can run,'' she said.
''With summer coming it's a reminder to be extremely careful.''
