Fire crews battle Napier scrub fire

  • 15/01/2016
The fire has created smoke which can be see through the city (MJSCakesHB / Twitter)
The fire has created smoke which can be see through the city (MJSCakesHB / Twitter)

A house has caught fire downwind of the scrub fire on the outskirts of Napier this afternoon.

Fire engines have been diverted from the fire at Poraiti to the house on Lanark Crescent, Tamatea.

A police spokeswoman says the house was fully ablaze and others nearby have been evacuated in case it spreads.

A Fire Service spokesperson says it is believed the house fire started in a car before spreading and is now under control.

The fires are unrelated.

Firefighters from across Hawke's Bay were called out to the blaze in Poraiti this afternoon but have got it under control, the Fire Service say.

Four houses were evacuated as a precautionary measure but residents have since been allowed to return, though police are on stand-by if further evacuations are necessary.

"We've been able to stop it spreading any further and it is dying down in places," regional fire commander Chris Nicholl said.

"But we will be on-site for the next 12-18 hours to make sure it is put out properly and there are no more flare-ups."

Three helicopters using monsoon buckets have been used to dump water on the flames and help fire crews fighting on the ground.

Motorists and the general public are asked to keep clear of the area.

It is unclear what started the fire.

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