Many fires overnight caused by lightning strikes

Lightning strikes started scrub and bush fires across the South Island overnight.

As of 5.30am a vegetation fire caused by lightning was still burning in Swannanoa, North Canterbury.

ONE News has been told the fire is under control but that at the height of the blaze there were 12 fire trucks at the scene.

There were six other fires in the South Island overnight that were caused by lightning.

Each was put out quickly but they were among 69 weather related call outs across the South Island, including surface flooding problems in Gore, Lumsden and Invercargill.

Meanwhile, a bakery in Akaroa sustained major damage in a fire that started about 4am. It has not been confirmed if the blaze started from a lightning strike.