UPDATED 12.34PM: Fire crews are still at the site of a blaze which wiped out a house, and threatened dozens of others on the outskirts of Christchurch yesterday afternoon.

Up to 40 homes were evacuated and a large cordon put in place as the flames spread.

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It took several hours before the fire was brought under control and residents could return home.

Acting Area Commander Greg Crawford says they'll remain at the scene this morning.

"We'll be out here keeping a bit of an eye on things especially in light of predicted wind change later on today," he says.

"We'll make sure there are no hot spots."

Crawford also says the burnt smell will linger for a long time.

"The houses are going to stink for ages. There's going to be soot problem, there's going to be a smell problem," he says.

The flames got around hundred-metres from Islington local Sean O'Connell's property, who had a garden hose on standby.

"It was too close for comfort", he says

"I was starting to think what belongings to chuck in the car."

O'Connell says a major pylon exploded while the fire was under way, testing the nerves of already frazzled residents.

Catherine Johnson was at home with her young daughter at the time and says it was terrifying.

She says she hasn't been that scared since the earthquakes.

Three fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.

Crawford says the fire was most likely caused by a downed wire, but is still waiting to confirm that.

"All points of origin will be established, and then we'll go through a process of eliminating any fire causes to come up with a cause," Acting Fire Regional Commander Dave Stackhouse says.

Meanwhile, Weather Watch head weather analyst Philip Duncan says conditions should ease today.

"We're not expecting it to be quite as hot or quite as windy," he says.

"In the evening there's a south-west change with some showers, some of those could be heavy with hail."