Crews battle large bush fire in Southland

Nine fire trucks have responded to the fire 5km north of Dipton. File photo

Six helicopters and nine fire crews are continuing to fight a blaze which has spread across 100ha in Southland.

The fire started just after 10am today and has damaged pine and commercial forestry as strong winds continue to fan the blaze, 5km north of Dipton.

Commercial helicopters from Queenstown and Te Anau have been called in to help the effort, Southern Rural Fire community engagement officer Sally Chesterfield said.

"Hopefully in a couple of hours, we'll have a good handle on it," she said.

Earlier, a fire crew took more than three hours to put out a scrub fire in Mossburn.

The fire covered 1ha and burnt vegetation in Wreys Bush Mossburn Rd, a fire spokesman said.

A Mossburn fire crew battled windy conditions to bring the fire under control.

There was no damage to property.

A fire in Waipahi had to be put out twice after it flared up again this afternoon.

The initial fire was attended by Pukerau, Gore and Clinton fire crews at about 11.10am.

It covered 200sq m of vegetation, the spokesman said.

However, it flared up again at about 2.40pm.

"They put the bulk of it out [this morning]," he said.

"However, they left a farmer with a water tanker and he was to watch it, but he obviously didn't keep an eye on it for long enough."

Gore and Pukerau fire crews attended the second blaze and put it out within 30 minutes, the spokesman said.

They were still at the scene to continue dampening the fire.

"We don't want to be caught twice."