Marlborough's worst ever fire on Boxing Day 2000, burnt 6,000 hectares (almost 15,000 acres) the course of three days, killed thousands of livestock and threatened the wine town of Blenheim, as well as a number of vineyards and wineries. Disaster was avoided by the brave residents, of what is now known as Fireroad, who battled the blaze by using buckets and hand held hoses and were eventually assisted by a fortunate wind shift. The Fireroad vineyards flourish in the same hot and dry climate that was the catalyst for such a mighty blaze.