A fire at Moonlight, between Middlemarch and Macraes, destroyed 7ha of pine plantation and threatened a homestead yesterday.
The fire began after a rubbish heap on the property in Moonlight Rd, buried two months ago, reignited about 7.30am, Dunedin City Council rural fire officer Graeme Still said.
Winds of up to 120kmh prevented a helicopter from helping the fire control effort.
A firecrew from Middlemarch was able to contain the fire to the plantation late yesterday, but a crew from the Waitaki stayed overnight to ensure hot spots did not flare up.
If winds dropped today it was hoped to get crews in to "mop up" the fire, he said.
There is a total fire ban in the Strath Taieri area.
