Fire crews are still dampening down hotspots near the Central Otago township of Roxburgh, where a bush fire destroyed one house and forced the evacuation of several others overnight.
Helicopters were called in to tackle the blaze, as 80km/h winds fanned the flames in tinder dry conditions on the edge of town.
Roxburgh chief fire officer Dave Rooney said crews were working at daybreak to put out any flare-ups.
"We've now had the helicopters back in the air, going around the whole perimeter, dealing with the hot spots."
One helicopter would remain on stand-by in the area for the rest of the day, he said.
MetService forecaster Paul Mallinson said Central Otago had temperatures in the mid-20s and humidity of 8 to 15 per cent yesterday.
The National Rural Fire Authority issued an "extreme" fire danger level for Central Otago yesterday.
The cause of the fire was unknown.
- NZPA
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