A warning to South Islanders planning burn offs

Fire and Emergency are urging people to postpone any controlled burns for the next two days, due to warm weather and high winds.

Mid-South Canterbury district manager Rob Hands says large parts of the island are also very dry - which is a recipe for burns to get out of control.

A burnoff near Lake Pukaki turned into a 50-hectare blaze on Monday afternoon - and forced two houses to evacuate.

Hands says people should take extra care monitoring burn piles in the next few weeks, and stay vigilant.