A 400-hectare blaze on Banks Peninsula is under control, but won't be put out entirely until Thursday.
The Fire Service was called to the fire in bush and farmland about 2pm on Tuesday.
Chief rural fire officer Keith Marshall says strong nor-west winds have hampered the crews of five fire trucks and five helicopters with monsoon buckets, but the blaze has been contained on Wednesday night.
However, there would still be hotspots and crews would work through the night and on Thursday to extinguish them.
Mr Marshall says occupants of four houses have been evacuated as a precaution and should be able to return on Wednesday evening.
It was originally thought a lightning strike started the blaze, but Mr Marshall says it is now not clear where or how it began.
