Steady rain yesterday morning has helped ensure a "medium-sized'' fire southeast of Invercargill is finally out.
The rain began about 5am and 23mm fell between then and 2pm, Southern Rural Fire Service community engagement officer Sally Chesterfield said.
"The rain certainly helped. It has greened things up all over Southland.''
The fire, which broke out about 2.30pm on Thursday, burnt about 25ha of manuka scrub.
About 40 southern rural fire and Fire Service firefighters attended, but because the area has very limited foot access, three helicopters carrying monsoon buckets were used to extinguish the blaze.
The fire was largely contained on Thursday night and a few firefighters returned yesterday morning to check for hot spots, Miss Chesterfield said.
The cause of the fire was not yet known, she said, but investigations continued.
The seat of the fire was about 2km from the Waituna Lagoon and the internationally-significant Waituna Wetlands Scenic Reserve.
Miss Chesterfield said although the fire had not threatening property, it was treated as a priority because of its potential to destroy the wetlands flora.
