Up to four homes have been lost or damaged after a monster grassfire in Christchurch.
Residents living along Hoskyns Rd in Rolleston had been forced to evacuate to the town's community centre.
Principal rural fire officer Richard McNamara says the fire is now contained and plans are undeway for overnight crews to dampen down hotspots.
Mr McNamara says one aircraft is assisting fire crews. Earlier on Saturday, several helicopters were dousing the flames, along with at least 11 fire engines and eight water tankers.
Reshma Lata from the nearby Izone cafe says she saw three helicopters with big buckets of water fight the fire.
Ms Lata says the fire appeared to be heading towards the suburbs, rather than the Rolleston town centre. She's also heard reports of a resident crying in the streets with a suitcase as she was evacuated.
It was one of two major grassfires firefighters were battling on the outskirts of Christchurch.
A second large fire was burning off Haul Rd, near where an earlier blaze sprung up at Mcleans Island around 12pm.
Three major fires have occurred in Christchurch on Saturday.
Earlier, a car going too fast over a speed bump caused sparks, which flared into a 1000-square-metre blaze near Mcleans Island Rd.
Fire and Emergency responding officer Mark Shawe told Newshub that fire had been contained around 2pm.
Newshub.
