Twizel residents watching flames last night are hoping firefighters can control the blaze before strong winds return to Mackenzie Basin.

Pukaki resident James Leslie told Newstalk ZB Christchurch his home is 10 kilometres from the fire but he could still see the large flames.

Resident Mary Hobbs told Chris Lynch flames were reaching 100 metres into the air and her home was saved thanks to the work of helicopter pilots.

She said the helicopter companies have had little or no government support in a very difficult year due to Covid19 – and they truly are essential services.

Weather forecasters say Northwest gales for the Canterbury High Country could be “severe at times, with gusts reaching 130km/h.”

The fire has now burned through 3000 hectares of forestry and scrub land.

Strong northerly winds have picked up to 50-kilometres an hour this morning.

An incident management team spokesman says the fire is heading up hillsides where there’s a lot of dry scrub in its path.

He said the blaze remains uncontrolled and the focus is to contain it to a 25-kilometre perimeter.

The fire has moved away from farm homesteads after one cottage was lost yesterday.

More than a dozen crews, 17 helicopters and two aircraft are involved in fire fighting efforts.