13 Jan 2017

Man and woman in mid-20s sought over Glenorchy fire

5:57 pm on 13 January 2017

Fire investigators are asking for the public's help to track down a car that could be linked to a 150 hectare scrub fire that cut off the town of Glenorchy and took out power to hundreds of homes.

Helicopters have been used to battle the Glenorchy blaze.

At its peak, eight helicopters and 50 ground crew were called to fight the fire near the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road. Photo: Supplied

The fire broke out late on Tuesday night on a beach below a well-known illegal camping spot, Rat Point, near the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road

Deputy Rural Fire Officer Jamie Cowan said investigators were initially looking for a white van, but had made contact with its occupants.

Mr Cowan said they were now looking for an older model dark-coloured station wagon, and a man and woman in their mid-20s, who left the area just before the fire started.

He said the pair were seen down by the side of Lake Wakatipu, where the camp fire that started the blaze was lit.

The Otago Regional Fire Authority believes the fire broke out at this spot, on the beach below Rat Point.

The Otago Regional Fire Authority believes the fire broke out at this spot, on the beach below Rat Point. Photo: Supplied

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs