Evacuations and homes damaged in 'massive' fire near Christchurch

Several homes have been damaged - and others forced to be evacuated - as firefighters battle a large grass and bush fire which has broken out in Rolleston.

Fire and Emergency NZ was alerted to the blaze - near Knights Rd - about 3pm.

Emergency services have asked people to stay away from the area while crews work to get the fire under control.

At least four homes have been damaged.

Police are at cordons, and have assisted with evacuations from houses on Hoskyns Rd.

Anyone who has been asked to leave their address can gather at the Community Centre on Rolleston Drive.

The blaze started on a Knights Rd property and has since spread across paddocks.
Ground conditions in the area are dry.

Local man Jason Shaw said the fire was at least two storeys high.

"There's this huge hedge on fire ... on a farm on the outskirts of Rolleston," he said.

He'd spoken to a relative at Christchurch Airport, about 20km away, who said they could see the smoke from there.

"It's massive alright."

Ashburton TV director Tony Arthur happened to be driving past when he came upon the huge blaze.

"It looked like trouble alright, it really did," Arthur said.

"With the high winds it looked like it could have crossed the road easily. It probably had by the time we left to be honest."

Helicopters with monsoon buckets were preparing to attack the fire.