A large scrub fire is burning at the Tekapo Military Training Area. Photo: George Empson / Photomack
A fire that broke out at the Tekapo Military Training Area after ammunition disposal on Tuesday has grown to 200ha and is not under control.
Fire and Emergency (FENZ) were called just before 11.30am to a scrub fire on NZ Defence Force property.
Two crews from the Lake Tekapo Volunteer Fire Brigade were on the ground, and being helped by four helicopters using monsoon buckets.
Tekapo resident George Empson said he heard two explosions, a few minutes apart, before a cloud of smoke rose to the west, near Mount Stevenson.
Smoke was still rising in the area around 3pm, he said.
FENZ said access to the site was difficult, and there had been a warm, strong easterly wind blowing throughout the day.
A Defence Force spokesperson said the scrub fire broke out at the military training area on Tuesday morning after a planned ammunition disposal.
No-one had been injured in the fire, the NZDF said.
Two fire appliances from Burnham Military Camp's 3rd Field & Emergency Response Squadron joined the FENZ firefighting efforts.
Additional NZDF staff and equipment were en route to Tekapo to support the response, the NZDF said.
FENZ issues warning for Canterbury ahead of norwester
Meanwhile, FENZ said Cantabrians should avoid lighting fires over the next few days.
Temperatures of up to 30 degrees Celsius were forecast, along with gusty norwesterly winds.
Although parts of the region were still in open fire season, vegetation fires would break out if residents did not heed their advice, FENZ said.
People should keep checking on old burn-offs because they could reignite, it added.
