Fire and Emergency crews are battling a large scrub fire near Wanaka on Sunday afternoon.
A spokesperson says they were first called to the fire just off Wanaka Mt Aspiring Road between the Treble Cone Skifield Road at about 1:30pm.
"The fire has spread across an area spanning 2 kilometres by 800 metres," they say.
"The fire has jumped the road, but is also spreading up the hillside."
Wanaka Mt Aspiring Road at Glendhu Bay has been closed while crews from Wanaka, Luggate, Arrowtown, Dunstan and Tarras battle the blaze.
They are being supported by at least four helicopters.
"There have been reports of drones operating near the fire, this is exceptionally dangerous with helicopters in the air and they need to be ground immediately," the spokesperson adds.
