Investigators remain at the scene of a suspicious forest fire which forced the evacuation of about 40 people from their homes near Canvastown in Marlborough on Tuesday night.
Emergency services were called to the fire in a pine plantation on State Highway 6, about 51km northwest of Blenheim.
The blaze covered an estimated 20 to 30 hectares.
Four helicopters with monsoon buckets were brought in to fight the blaze from the air, and bulldozers were used to cut fire breaks.
The fire was brought under control yesterday and all the evacuated families had been allowed back.
Marlborough South deputy principal fire officer John Foley said the fire looked suspicious but it would take a day or two to determine the cause.
