The 25-hectare blaze was discovered Wednesday afternoon in the woodlands of Renolscroft and with the aid of three helicopters, 22 Natural Resources staff and three firefighting ground teams the fire was contained quickly by a fire line.

“When we fight fires we go from the outside bottom towards the head of the fire,” explained Arthur Swain, district supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources. “It takes a fair amount of time and effort.”

Firefighting teams worked on fighting the blaze 100 ft at a time, edging their way to the centre of the fire.

“With the heat of the day combined with the heat of the fire many were feeling sick and upset…the temperature was over 100 degrees in the woods,” said Swaine. “It was burning hot and deep.”

Although the fire was contained relatively quickly, firefighters continued to put out hotspots leftover from the fire.

It is still not known how the fire was started.