Smoke from controlled burn covers Queenstown
Thick smoke from a controlled burn off has blanketed parts of Queenstown this afternoon but there's no cause for alarm say firefighters.
The smoke has drifted on the wind down from a burn off at Greenvale Station, near Kingston.
"Just a heads up from Kingston Fire Brigade - the smoke in Kingston is from a stubble burn at Greenvale Station, Fairlight," writes Kerry Conner, of Kingston Fire Brigade, in a social media post.
"The farm is located in Southland - this region still has an open fire season. So they are allowed to light a fire.
"Fire and Emergency are aware of the fire."
Several areas, including the Jack's Point, Hanley's Farm, Frankton and the Five Mile shopping centre are affected by the smoke.
Queenstown Lakes moved into restricted fire season back on 20 December.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand banned fireworks in the Queenstown Lakes area and restricted open-air fires from 8am that morning until further notice.
Anyone who wants to light an open-air fire needs a permit authorised by FENZ, which they can apply for at checkitsalright.nz.
