Local fires fanned by strong winds - but under control

Local fire brigades have been kept busy this afternoon after strong winds have fanned significant vegetation fires in both Kingston and Cromwell.

Many Queenstown readers contacted Crux concerned about large amounts of smoke seen towards the southern end of Lake Whakatipu. (See main image above - credit Andrew Marshall).

FENZ told Crux that that they sent a number of Frankton appliances to the scene of the fire near Cainard Road, Kingston. In spite of the very large amount of smoke ,fire crews reported that it was a controlled burn that was not out of control. No action was necessary.

However near Cromwell, between Pisa Moorings and Mount Pisa, a far more serious situation developed.

Multiple fire appliances, tankers and helicopters were deployed and a rapid response prevented a large vegetation fire spreading.

FENZ said that the blaze was contained within a 500 metres by 500 metres area due to this large, scale high speed action.

"The crews did a great job in tricky conditions" a spokesman told Crux.

No cause of the Mount Pisa blaze has been identified but it is being investigated.