A burning mountain of tyres that spewed plumes of black toxic smoke in the Canterbury town of Rolleston yesterday has been put out.
The fire began at about 4.30pm yesterday afternoon in a hedge and spread to a large pile of disused tyres about 30 metres high and 50 metres long on a property on Weedons Ross Road near State Highway 1.
At its height, more than 40 firefighters and 16 vehicles battled the blaze, and residents were told to avoid the area and keep their windows closed because of the smoke.
The fire was finally put out and crews left the scene at about 11.30pm.
Fire investigators will return to the property today to ascertain how the blaze started.