Firefighters are still struggling to contain a huge blaze that is covering 1900 hectares near Nelson on New Zealand's South Island.
"We don't have total control of that area, we're just fortunate it didn't actually grow yesterday," Fire and Emergency New Zealand's John Sutton told media on Thursday.
"But I would expect by the end of the day, we'll be able to say that we have containment," he added.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who visited the region on Thursday, said seeing the fire up close was confronting.
"While I'm immensely relieved there's been no loss of life and want to thank all of those involved in tackling this immense fire, it's clear there are going to be some difficult times ahead until we get the fire fully under control and people back to their homes," she said in a statement.
So far emergency services confirmed that one property was destroyed while more than 400 people had to evacuate 183 homes when the inferno approached.
Richard Kempthorne, the mayor in the Tasman district in the north of New Zealand's South Island, said evacuations would likely remain in place for a few days.
Investigators believe that a contractor ploughing a paddock in Pigeon Valley, about 30 kilometres from Nelson, accidentally started the fire on Tuesday.
No injuries have been reported but 13 sheep had to be put down.
