A fire near New Brighton in Christchurch has now been successfully contained.
The fire started in the sand dunes at the end of Marine Pde in Southshore this afternoon and spread to nearby trees, sending smoke billowing across the city.
Police say most cordons are now down and those residents who had been evacuated from nearby homes have returned.
Around a dozen appliances and 65 fire fighters from the surrounding area were involved at the peak of the fire.
The fire as seen from the Rocking Horse Road turn off (Sarah Marie Seel)
RadioLIVE
