A large vegetation fire is still burning at Canterbury's Lewis Pass Road at Island Hills

Fire and Emergency New Zealand was alerted around 2:30 this afternoon and now says it's grown to about 40 hectares in size.

Assistant Commander Dave Key says multiple crews and nine helicopters have been working to contain the fire.

Three properties were evacuated, but no structures nor livestock were lost.

The blaze is now about 80 percent contained and 60 percent controlled.