Canterbury Police and the New Zealand Fire Service are urging the public to stay calm while cordons are in place on Caspian Street to protect properties in the Marine Parade / Rockinghorse Road area of New Brighton.
Superintendent Lane Todd says emergency services were alerted to a fire in the sand dunes at around 3pm this afternoon.
The fire has since spread to nearby trees and the Fire Service are working to bring it under control.
Fire Service Operations Manager Chris Munro says there are a number of appliances at the scene and firefighters are working to prevent the spread of the fire to nearby properties. A helicopter has also been deployed.
No properties have been damaged but a number of properties have been evacuated in the Marine Parade / Rockinghorse Road area as a precaution.
Smoke is quite thick near the cordoned area and Police encourage non-residents to avoid travelling to the area while diversions are in place.
A further update will be made by the Fire Service in the next few hours.
ENDS
Issued by: Canterbury Police District Communications Manager, Lisa-Marie Brooks