Strong winds and fires batter south

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Severe gales have brought down power lines throughout the deep south today, and a number of fires have resulted.

Nine appliances and fire crews are working to protect homes from a blaze in a 200-metre line of trees near Mossburn, north of Invercargill.

The Fire Service says strong winds are making their job more difficult, and are set to continue into the small hours of the morning.

A second fire is burning above and below ground in the Danseys Pass Road area, west of Oamaru.

A Fire Service spokesman believes the 500 by 40-metre blaze, in a slash and pine plantation, will be burning for the next couple of days.

Two helicopters were brought in to help douse the flames above ground, but were stood down at around 7.30pm.

While the fire is under control, the spokesman said strong winds are making it unpredictable.

Fire crews from Dunedin to Palmerston are dampening down a blaze in trees north of Dunedin.

Trees and powerlines have also been blown over in the Queenstown - Frankton area, with the Fire Service receiving about 30 calls for assistance.