Fire commander Dave Berry speaks from the scene of a Rolleston fire that destroyed one home and damaged several others on Saturday.

A house has been destroyed and two others badly damaged by a large grass fire near Rolleston, southwest of Christchurch.

At 6pm, at least three helicopters, 12 fire trucks, eight tankers and three rural units were battling the blaze, burning across 7 hectares.

Firefighters were called to the Knights Rd fire just after 3pm on Saturday.

HAMISH THORNTON A grass fire is threatening homes on Hoskyns Rd, near Rolleston.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Canterbury area commander Dave Berry said the blaze badly damaged two houses and two sheds, with about "10 per cent damage" to a third property.

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One house was ablaze before fire crews arrived. "There was no hope of saving that one," Berry said.

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF Fire Service Area Commander Dave Berry says the fire is under control but crews were worried about the weather conditions.

Strong winds of about 40kmh and dry weather over the past few weeks had complicated firefighting efforts, he said.

"At this stage it's under control but we're still relying on the weather conditions we're a bit worried about."

Five helicopters and 19 fire trucks from Rolleston, Darfield, Colgate and Hororata were involved. Four helicopters were sent to fight a separate sawdust fire on Haul Rd, near McLeans Island, about 6pm.



That fire, about 100m in size, was not threatening properties.



Initial reports to emergency services about a missing person were inaccurate. Berry said he was "definitely" concerned about fire risk in the coming days as hot conditions persist.

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF The blaze can be seen for kilometres.

Berry said there would be crews on site tomorrow, and about "30 to 40 guys overnight watching hot spots as well".

Earlier, a fire spokesman said several houses on Hoskyns Rd had been evacuated, but could not confirm how many.

"By the time the first crew arrived the fire had spread to a shelter belt [row of trees] and was threatening property."

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF Helicopters with monsoon buckets have be brought in to fight the fire.

"Emergency services are asking people to stay away from the area while crews work to get the fire under control," a police statement said.

Senior Sergeant Dean Harker said "quite a few people" had been going out to watch the fire, which was causing problems for emergency services.

He said a helicopter had been sent up to get an idea of the extent of the fire, which had got "out of hand".

SUPPLIED The grass fire spread over several square kilometres and consumed two structures on Saturday afternoon.

Anyone who had been asked to leave their home could gather at the Community Centre on Rolleston Drive.