Firefighters tackle the blaze near Blackhead this afternoon. Photo: Stephen JaquieryA hedge cutter fire near Blackhead, south of Dunedin, sent large plumes of thick black smoke across the area this afternoon. "But en route, they could see a lot of black smoke, so they then requested another appliance." A tanker was sent from the central Dunedin station and another appliance from Roslyn attended the fire. He said it was fortunate the hedge cutter was not in a shed, because there was no danger to other property.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 09, 2026 00:32 UTC