The behaviour of some New Year's revelers has been labelled idiotic by the Fire Service.

People in parched parts of the South Island were letting off fire crackers overnight.

Their actions saw southern fire crews get called out to a large number of incidents during the night.

Fire and Emergency shift manager Riwai Grace said people up and down the South Island - but mainly in Canterbury and the Selwyn District - were letting off fireworks last night.

"I can't believe people so idiotic in these dry conditions doing that, because they don't know where these fireworks are going to end up and how quickly these fires can actually spread."

Grace is describing the behaviour of those responsible as idiotic.

"Really asking people to use common sense. I know it's New Year's Eve and we like to celebrate things in out country, but how would you feel if you set off fireworks and you burnt your neighbour's house down?"

Grace is asking people to use common sense.

There have currently been at least two scrub fires in the Canterbury region in the past fortnight that have required evacuations.