It has already burned through about 100 hectares of vegetation and destroyed a farm building, which had been part of an old railway station and was being used to store hay, by the Hurunui River.
Fire and Emergency was alerted about 1pm to the fast-moving scrub fire on Domett Road near Cheviot.
Fire and Emergency said the fire was now contained, but hotspots still need to be mopped up.
Eight crews an d one helicopter will be returning to the fireground on Sunday morning.
The fire began on the side of SH1, and its cause was under investigation.
Meanwhile, in the south of Timaru, firefighters have now left the scene of another vegetation blaze in Paraeroa West.
Fire crews were alerted to the vegetation blaze on Beaconsfield Road just after 3pm on Saturday.
Crews contained the blaze on Saturday but remained on the scene until Sunday morning to monitor hotspots.
