Firefighters continue to battle major blaze near Queenstown
Firefighters are working to contain a vegetation fire near Queenstown, New Zealand, which threatened a historic homestead. While the fire is not yet fully extinguished, officials report no loss of life or property and are investigating a controlled burn as the potential cause.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the risks of controlled burns in dry conditions and the importance of emergency response in tourist-heavy regions.
Helicopters and ground crews will continue work on Thursday to contain a large vegetation fire that has affected Walter Peak and Cecil Peak stations near Queenstown.
Fire and Emergency said rain on Wednesday night had helped suppress the fire and it had not visibly grown.
Crews found no visible flames around the perimeter on a flight this morning.
No homes, buildings, or livestock had been lost as a result of the fire, Fire and Emergency said.
"The fire is not out yet, so we have crews back on the ground supported by helicopters, targeting hotspots and strengthening containment lines," Fire and Emergency said.
Queenstown Lakes District councillor Jon Mitchell said the fire spread quickly on Tuesday from where it started near Walter Peak Station, producing a lot of smoke as it burned through vegetation.
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