Three helicopters fighting a fire in Arrowtown are being grounded for the night as the blaze continues to burn.
The fire, in the vicinity of Coronet Forest, took hold after a burn-off jumped into a neighbouring property.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokesman this evening said an Arrowtown crew was called to the blaze about 3.45.
The fire was not — at that stage — considered out of control, but crews were assisting the landowner.
At 8pm the fire was still burning, and the helicopters fighting the roughly 10ha fire had to be grounded by sunset, a Fenz spokesperson said.
Police had assisted with a road closure, but it had now reopened, the spokesman said.
An Otago Daily Times reporter at the scene earlier said five distinct lines of smoke were visible as the fire appeared to be travelling uphill.
