3:30 PM
Firefighters battling the major blaze in the Wither Hills near Blenheim say the fire is now covering an area of approximately 5,000 hectares, with a perimeter of around 32 kilometres.
Fifty firefighters and 100 support volunteers are using eight helicopters and a number of fire trucks to fight the blaze.
Spokesman Vern Harris believes it could take up to two days to bring the fire completely under control and several more days before the fire is completely put out.
He says the weather in the area is very hot, dry and windy, fuelling the flames.
A joint police, fire and civil defence team has been set up to coordinate efforts to contain and put out the fire.
Mr Harris says there are a number of areas giving cause for concern and they are being tackled.
Stock losses are feared from the fire, but the extent of losses is not yet known.
- IRN
Fire rages by Blenheim
Blenheim fire covers 5,000 hectares
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