The New Zealand city of Christchurch declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after a bushfire destroyed houses in its suburbs and forced hundreds of people to flee from their homes.
The military were called in to help battle the blaze in the city's southern Port Hills district.
Two to three houses are known to have fallen victim to the blaze in the Worsley Spur area.
An earlier police estimate that as many as 40 homes had "been lost" to the flames has been dramatically revised down.
The fire forced about 300 people to flee, media reported.
A fire-fighter was killed on Tuesday when a helicopter crashed while battling the blaze.
Police said evacuations had tailed off on Wednesday evening but authorities urged people to be ready to get out of their homes and seek safety at short notice.
Residents were being moved out from Worsley Road, Cracroft, the bottom of Hoon Hay Valley Road and the Westmorland area, and being dirrected to various welfare centres.
The city council has advised people to stay away from Port Hills to allow emergency services access and to ensure swift evacuation.
The recently-opened Christchurch Adventure Park remains closed, with fire affecting the top part of the park, but not having reached the village containing the cafe and rental shop area.
Around 120 firefighters and support crew have been involved in ground operations to battle the fires that broke out on Monday night.
Principal Rural Fire Officer Darrin Woods said the Marley's Hill fire escalated in the early hours of Wednesday and had progressed downhill through the forest to below the powerlines.
The fire and smoke temporarily cut power to 89,000 homes and to traffic lights.
He said 15 helicopters and two other aircraft were operating at three locations, with the priority being the area above Governors Bay.
Reuters, AAP, Stuff.co.nz