Wellington, March 17 NZPA - Fire crews are waiting until first light before continuing battling a pine forest blaze in Marlborough.

Emergency services were called to the fire in a pine plantation on State Highway 6 near Canvastown, about 51km northwest of Blenheim, about 10.30pm last night.

Fire crews arrived to find the blaze was bigger than first reported, covering an estimated 20 to 30 hectares, Fire Service assistant area manager for Tasman/Marlborough Tim Bennion said this morning.

"Very little firefighting" was done overnight and helicopters would be sent up at first light to see the extent of the fire, he said.

Bulldozers would also be brought in to create fire breaks.

About a dozen homes threatened by the fire were evacuated last night but none had been reached by the fire, Mr Bennion said.

More than 30 urban and rural firefighters were at the scene last night.

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