A second significant Awarua Bay fire has been caught just in time.

The fire started after a car caught fire under a transmission line power pylon.

Invercargill and Tiwai Point fire crews responding at 5.45am this morning (10 April) discovered a quickly moving fire spreading through dense manuka scrub.

Incident Controller David Coveney said the fire had spread to cover about one hectare.

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Crews were able to get around the flanks of the fire and pinch it off, preventing it from escaping and joining up with the fire at Awarua Bay, which is less than 10km away to the north, he said.

Hedgehope Volunteer Fire Brigade, a Department of Conservation Crew and a helicopter are working to extinguish remaining hotspots today, Coveney said.

"The crews made a great save this morning. This was a big fire - the glow was visible from Invercargill."

"We need to ensure that it is fully out because the fire danger in the area remains extreme."

He said that if this morning’s fire had not been contained quickly, it would have ravaged 2000 hectares of public conservation land.

While temperatures in the area are low today, the wind is blustery and vegetation is dry.

A fire investigation is underway.