Fire burns on a hillside behind a building at the western end of the Otago Central Rail Trail near Clyde yesterday. Photo: Kristy Velenski
A loose wheel sparked a large scrub fire near Clyde yesterday, Fire and Emergency New Zealand says.
Early investigations showed a wheel broke free from a southbound trailer on State Highway 8. The fire began because the wheel was hot, Fenz rural fire investigator Mark Hutton said.
Helicopters were called
to help put out the fire, which scorched a field near the Clyde cemetery yesterday evening.
Fenz southern communications manager Andrew Norris said the fire service was called to the scene at 5pm.
Two helicopters, fire engines and a command unit from Alexandra, a fire engine and a support unit from Clyde and a fire tanker from Tarras attended.
