Firefighters battle three grass fires near SH1 in Burnham, Canterbury

by · RNZ
Firefighters are at the scene of three fires in BurnhamPhoto: Pretoria Gordon / RNZ

Firefighters are battling three grass fires near Burnham in Canterbury, close to State Highway 1.

Fire and Emergency said calls came in about one big fire and two smaller ones, near the intersection on Selwyn Lake Rd with Telegraph Rd, at about 1.30pm on Thursday.

Eight fire trucks, tankers and support vehicles are at the scene and three helicopters are on the way.

The public are asked to avoid the area and follow instructions of firefighters if they were already in the area.

NZTA said State Highway 1 was closed between Leeston Dunsandel Rd and Burnham Rd due to the fires.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.