Story updated 8.35pm: A large vegetation fire near Clyde that burned approximately 20 hectares - roughly the size of 20 rugby fields - has been contained, with firefighters remaining on site overnight to monitor for flare-ups.

Most residents evacuated near Springvale Road have now been allowed home following the "fast-moving" blaze this afternoon (Wednesday February 25).

Fire and Emergency New Zealand incident controller Nic McQuillan said only a small number of people from properties west of McArthur Road remained unable to return home.

Twenty-one fire trucks and support vehicles responded to the incident.

Nic said firefighters had worked hard to save homes in the fire’s path.

Images: Susan Heal

One shed was destroyed and the exterior of one house was scorched by flames.

The fire burned on both sides of Springvale Road, which remains closed.

Helicopters with monsoon buckets fighting the fire from the air were stood down at 8pm, and some ground crews were released.

Multiple crews will continue working until dark, with one crew remaining on site overnight keep watch.

“Additional crews will return tomorrow to extinguish some deep-seated areas of fire,” Nic said.

Videos shared to social media showed the fire burning through dry grassland and pine trees along the road linking Clyde with Omakau.

A FENZ spokesperson earlier told The Central App fire trucks had been deployed from Dunstan, Clyde, Alexandra, Cromwell, Dunedin, Omakau, Tarras, Blackstone and Millers Flat.

No injuries were reported.

Fire crews respond to a fast-moving blaze near Springvale Road on Wednesday afternoon. Image: Susan Heal

On its own Facebook page, FENZ had warned nearby residents during the peak of the blaze of "a lot of smoke...drifting towards Alexandra".

"If you are in the vicinity of the smoke, please stay inside with windows closed," it said on its Otago Facebook page.

"Please stay away from the area of the fire so firefighters can do their job to contain the fire."

It asked people to "take extra care while undertaking any hot works in the area", such as welding, grinding and lawn mowing due to the number of resources responding to the blaze.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The fire was reported to FENZ a little after 4pm.

The district entered a prohibited fire season on Saturday.

Read more: 'Surprise' fire ban for Central

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