Firefighters battle multiple blazes across Otago and Southland

Thursday 27 November 2025 · 4 outlets · 7 reports · updated Fri 28 Nov 2025, 6:36am

In this story Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Emergency crews and helicopters are fighting several vegetation fires in Otago and Southland driven by high winds and heat. A fire near Mataura has closed a section of State Highway 96, while a blaze in Palmerston has burnt through 25 hectares of pine trees.

How they headlined it

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1. Otago Daily TimesThu 27 Nov 2025, 1:59pm

   Crews battling blazes in Otago and Southland (opens in new tab)

2. 1NewsThu 27 Nov 2025, 4:04pm

   Helicopters battle multiple fires raging across Southland and Otago (opens in new tab)

   • Helicopters battle multiple fires raging at both ends of the country (opens in new tab) Thu 27 Nov 2025, 4:04pm
3. NZ HeraldThu 27 Nov 2025, 4:51pm

   Firefighters respond to multiple vegetation fires across Otago, Southland regions (opens in new tab)

4. RNZThu 27 Nov 2025, 5:06pm

   Series of scrub fires break out in Otago and Southland (opens in new tab)

   • Residents warned to keep windows shut after series of scrub fires break out in Otago and Southland (opens in new tab) Thu 27 Nov 2025, 9:56pm
   • Firefighters battle fires in Otago, Southland overnight (opens in new tab) Fri 28 Nov 2025, 6:36am