Large scrub fire burns in the lower Waimakariri GorgeSUPPLIED/Gerard Friel The fire shot from a plane en route to Brisbane on Saturday morning. Firefighters are trying to contain a large scrub fire in rural Canterbury. A water-dumping helicopter is headed for the isolated area near Springfield to contain the blaze which was first reported in the early hours of Saturday morning. The fire is located on public conservation land near the rail bridge over Broken River just south west of where it meets the Waimakariri River. Putting out the blaze is made more difficult with Saturday's hot, windy weather conditions, a Fire Service spokesman said.

Source: Stuff February 03, 2017 21:33 UTC