A number of buildings are under threat and a state highway has been closed after a South Island vegetation blaze.

Fire and Emergency shift manager Daryl Nixon said the fire was in the Waimate area, south of Timaru.

“We’ve got the state highway closed at this point in time due to smoke over the road,” he said.

“We’re just extinguishing fires as we come across them.”

Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley said he had been notified of a scrub fire on State Highway 1, about 1km north of the turnoff into Waimate.

“Three fire engines went out through town earlier on, but I haven’t heard anymore detail other than that at this stage.”