Firefighters extinguish blaze near Christchurch speedway

File photo / NZ Herald

Firefighters have extinguished a blaze near the Woodford Glen Speedway in Christchurch.

The fire broke in a pit of pickled pasture just after 11am today, on farmland near the city fringe.

Grassland and tyres caught fire, sending thick black smoke into the air. Plumes of smoke were visible from miles away.

"It produced a lot of smoke," Southern Fire Communications said. "It was a fire in a silage pit."

A nearby resident told Newstalk ZB three fire engines were at the scene, but nobody was in danger.