Pollution experts will be at the scene of a destructive blaze at a South Island honey factory to deal with sticky residue left in the water used to fight the fire.

The large fire at the Canterbury apiary has been extinguished this morning.

The workshop at Airborne Honey in Leeston, south of Christchurch, burst into flames around 10 last night.

The blaze took 30 firefighters to get under control, but was eventually extinguished around 1am.

Last night, a Fire Service spokesman said crews were trying to contain the fire and protect surrounding buildings.

Nobody was injured in the blaze. 

Neighbours near the large manufacturing plant reported hearing loud explosions as fire raced through the large storage building.

The building suffered extensive damage in the blaze. At one point it threatened to spread to a neighbouring home.

Fire Service southern communications shift manager Andrew Norris said this morning pollution experts from Environment Canterbury would be needed to work out how to best clean up the sticky problem.

"The water run-off from firefighting operations is contaminated with honey. ECan will be working with the Selwyn District Council to see what they can do about removing that water," he said.

Firefighters had earlier blocked drains to prevent the sticky run-off from getting into creeks and waterways near the Airborne property.

Fire investigators would also be working to determine what caused the blaze.

Norris said no one was in the large storage building when fire broke out.

Leeston man Warren Firth posted a picture on Facebook of the intense flames and plumes of smoke that could be seen from his backyard.

He wrote that there was a huge bang that was similar to an earthquake before he went outside to see the factory fire lighting up the night sky.

Additional reporting by Lynley Bilby, NZ Herald