Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
A bush fire that was spreading near a river in Blenheim has been extinguished and is being treated as possibly suspicious.
Emergency services received a call about the fire shortly after 1pm Sunday on Dillons Point Road in the suburb of Islington.
Fire and Emergency said the fire spread through 50sqm of scrub but was extinguished by two fire crews from Blenheim and a water tanker.
Meanwhile, eight Fire and Emergency vehicles are responding to a blaze on the top storey of a building in rural Canterbury.
Emergency services were alerted to the fire just before 1pm.
A spokesperson said four fire engines and four water tankers are at McNamaras Road in the Waimate District.
They said that fire is under control.