A fire which burned through about 30ha in Canterbury is linked to a tyre blowing out on a vehicle, an initial investigation suggests.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the blaze broke out near the railway lines south of Burnham about 1.30pm today. Some 22 trucks, tankers and support vehicles attended, with five helicopters in the air.
The spokesperson said there was a large fire and two smaller blazes next to SH1 near the intersection with Selwyn Lake and Telegraph Rds.
Crews from the Burnham Camp, Dunsandel, Rolleston, Kirwee, Wigram, Lincoln, Darfield South, Darfield, Leeston, Christchurch City, and Canterbury High Country stations attended.
Fire and Emergency said the cause of the blaze would not be confirmed until an investigation was completed.
State Highway 1 between Dunsandel and Burnham was closed at 2.30pm but had reopened by 5pm, with long lines of traffic.
The large one appeared to have started near the railway lines south of Dunsandel.
"There are a number of fire appliances and one helicopter I can see fighting the fire.
"Traffic was backed up and down to a crawl south before the diversion west at Dunsandel."
- Star News and RNZ
