Firefighters keep watch for hot spots

Firefighters were yesterday dampening hot spots after a scrub fire at Mt Cook Station in the McKenzie Basin.

The fire burned though more than 200ha of pine and tussock land.

South Canterbury's Principal Rural Fire Officer, Rob Hands, said the fire was still smouldering in places but the situation was under control.

Stock were removed from the area as a precaution.

Firefighters will be checking to make sure remaining sparks do not get through containment lines and check for hotspots.

Mr Hands said that at the height of the fire, 70 crew members and 11 helicopters were fighting it.