The sole engine at the Makarora fire station was this afternoon trying to save a house from being engulfed by flames from a nearby hay barn.
The barn -- on a remote farm 25km north of Lake Hawea -- caught fire at 4.15pm.
Makarora attended as closest station, but with a home being threatened, pump units from Wanaka and Hāwea, and tankers from Luggate and Tarras were sent to help.
The haystack was being pulled apart to allow damping down, FENZ spokesman Mau Barbara told the Otago Daily Times at 6.30.
Gusty northwesterlies and high temperatures had fanned the fire.
