Alexandra volunteer firefighter John Mawhinney puts out the last of the fire after a burn-off in the paddock behind him was fanned by a gusty northwest wind near Alexandra early yesterday afternoon.
Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade Senior Station Officer Glen Gray said the property owner was having a burn-off which quickly got out of control when the wind picked up.
The Alexandra and Clyde volunteer brigades and a rural fire tanker doused the blaze which covered an estimated 1ha.
Because it was within 1km of the Otago Central Rail Trail, a Department of Conservation officer was also in attendance.
Mr Gray said the brigade "knocked the fire [the burn-off] right down so it was just smoldering" and left the property owner keeping an eye on it.
About two hours later, the Alexandra brigade was called to reports of another fire on the Clutha River bank behind WasteBusters, the town's recycling centre.
Mr Gray said it appeared to be a smoldering camp fire and there was no-one at the scene when they arrived.
Central Otago sub area commander Senior Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said police were satisfied it was just a campfire and nothing suspicious and would not investigate further.
He said it was a timely reminder of the danger fires, especially when unattended, posed.
Central Otago is in an open fire season, except areas within a radius of 1km from Department of Conservation land and the Naseby Forest.
