Mahia fire latest in terrible week for firefighters

A fire which has burned through 35 hectares on the Mahia Penisula has been contained.

The fire has destroyed one house and forced the evacuation of several others.

Fire services were called to the blaze around 3:20pm, which is believed to have started as a scrub fire and moved.

Six helicopters are fighting a fire at a coastal settlement on the peninsula and an evacuation centre is being set up for residents.

A Fire Service spokeswoman said the fire is under control and crews will work on to put it entirely out.

(Supplied/Sarah Young)
(Supplied/Sarah Young)

Crews from Gisborne, Napier, Wairoa and Mohaka assisted the local Mahia brigade in the fire fight.

Homes on Pukenui Drive had been evacuated although residents now have the all clear to return home.

An evacuation centre has been set up at Te Ao Marama, a Gisborne Boys' High School camp facility. 

The fires capped off a terrible week and have prompted a plea from firefighters.

The warning from fire crews don't burn anything without a permit.

"The conditions out there are just so dry you know and it doesn't take much to get a little bit of ignition source and away it goes," principal rural fire officer Brian Cartelle says.

Newshub.