Rain douses Queenstown blaze

Firefighters were today keeping fingers crossed that overnight rain had finally doused the fire that has been raging next to Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu for five days.

"The signs so far are good," Queenstown Lakes District Council principal rural fire chief Gordon Bailey said.

He said that a helicopter with thermal imaging equipment was flying over the area this morning identifying any remaining hotspots but he was confident the situation was now under control.

The blaze, which has burned through more than 750ha of alpine vegetation, was one of many sparked by hot and dry conditions throughout the South Island during the past few days.

At its height seven helicopters with moonsoon buckets and 10 fire crews fought the blaze.

- NZPA