UPDATED 8.30PM: A suspicious vegetation fire in Blenheim which has forced the evacuation of several homes is now contained.

About 60 people who were evacuated from nearby homes have been allowed to return.

Emergency services battled for more than two hours to get the large vegetation fire under control in the suburb of Wither Hills.

Six helicopters and 10 fire appliances were deployed after the alert about 4.30pm.

The blaze spread along the banks of the Taylor River near West Mount School, off Taylor Pass Road.

Principal Marlborough Kaikoura rural fire officer Richard McNamara said firefighters will remain at the scene overnight to dampen down hot spots.

"Specialist investigators from urban and rural fire have arrived on site to help determine the cause of the fire, which is suspicious," he said.

Bulldozers will be used on Sunday to help control any underground hot spots.

One road, two intersections and the entrance to a bike track were cordoned off.

They have since reopened to residents but remain closed to other members of the public.

A total fire ban is in place in Marlborough.

A fire that swept through the Wither Hills on Boxing Day 2000 burned out of control for two days, threatened the town boundary, scorched pasture and killed stock.