Fire investigators are still trying to establish the cause of a massive fire which has already burnt through 500 hectares of Marlborough land.
Ground crews spent the day dampening down hot spots, while more volunteer fire fighters arrived to help battle the blaze, which could last for weeks.
It's just the beginning for ground crews fighting the fire near Renwick, which broke out two nights ago.
Fire crews from all over the South Island have responded to a call for help and although a cool change in the weather helped overnight, it's a short respite with the temperature expected to heat up again tomorrow.
Local farmers like Ted Marr are now counting the cost. After having worked on a Marlborough farm for 60 years, he has never seen anything like this.
"This is by far the biggest fire I've ever seen here."
It took just an hour for the blaze to burn through most of his flat land. He started shifting stock at 1am yesterday.
The hay shed was saved by fire crew although others weren't so lucky and while Mr Marr's crops are gone, his 110-year-old family home survived.
The problem now for farmers is how to feed their stock this winter.
The rural fire service says the number of rural fires has risen 50 percent on last year, and drought-like conditions are to blame.
Fire fighters warn this won't be the last fire of the season, and probably not the last for this region.
3 News
source: newshub archive
