Dunedin's water supply is under threat by a massive scrub fire in Middlemarch.
The city is no longer taking water from its primary source at Deep Stream Reservoir due to fire retardant being used at its edges.
Three Waters spokesperson Tom Dyer says southerly winds could take the fire to the city's only other water source at Deep Creek. A lot of the vegetation around Deep Streamhas been burnt, so water is no longer being taken from there as a safety precaution.
Residents are being asked to preserve water.
One property has been evacuated.
More than 2773 hectares have been burned so far. The fire is in a remote area with no road access, so has been monitored overnight by one ground crew.
Firefighters will tackle the blaze again Sunday morning at first light.
A large cloud of smoke was visible over much of south Otago on Saturday.
Newshub.
