Waikakaho Valley residents have met with Fire Service officials to air their concerns about the forest fire that has been threatening their homes this week.
About 40 people attended a public meeting in Tuamarina, Marlborough, this afternoon.
The region's principal rural fire officer Richard McNamara said he wanted to reassure residents that firefighters' top priority was keeping people safe.
Mr McNamara remained confident crews would have contained 80 percent of the fire by the end of the day.