A fire ripped through 9ha of olive trees and grazing alongside the Tukituki Rd on Thursday.
It took fire crews with a helicopter 1.5 hours to bring the "well involved" fire under control and 4 hours to put it out.
Hastings Fire Station spokesman said they received the call about 3pm and went to a "second alarm rural response".
Staff from Hastings, Haumoana, Havelock North and Maraetotara battled the blaze before leaving at 9.30pm.
Four fire appliances, two tankers and one aerial attended and a helicopter with a monsoon bucket and six hose lines were used to extinguish the fire.
"The wind picked up so the guys did well to cut the grass off but unfortunately by that point it had already spread to the bracken bush between the block and river," the spokesman said.
Eastern Regional Rural Fire Committee chairman Trevor Mitchell said the speed of the fire astonished the property owners with the blaze spreading more than 250m in under five minutes.
The blaze was yet another warning that every care needs to be taken with fire as the region continues to turn "tinder dry".
"This demonstrates how dry conditions are and that people need to be very vigilant."
This was just one of a number of fires crews had to attend this week, including an abandoned bonfire in a freedom camping area in Waimarama, and a rubbish fire that got out of control in Te Onepu Road.
Hastings Fire Station spokesman said three of the fires happened on Thursday afternoon.
"The olive grove fire was the most significant of the call outs but the windy and dry conditions are making it very easy for them to spread."
Deputy principal rural fire officer Bruce Kitto said Central Hawke's Bay had been quiet in comparison but warned residents to be mindful as it was still very dry.
"I haven't been issuing permits and there are none that are outstanding as it is too dangerous. So hopefully we have shut down the risk."
He said the last call out they had was in the lead up to New Year with a scrub fire along the Tuki Tuki River bank by the Lindsay Bush Reserve.
"We went out about 10.30pm with one appliance and treated it as suspicious but are still unsure as to how it started."
This came after a large scrub fire before Christmas on Ngahape Rd where wind gusts were so strong fire crews could hardly stand up.
The fire was 100m by 40m and the westerly wind caused it to spread along the grass in direct line of the house.
Mr Kitto asked residents to be sensible for the remainder of the dry season so fire call outs were limited.
"People should also be careful when using barbecues as gas bottles could get knocked over in the wind and don't throw cigarette butts out the window."
The restricted fire season in place for the district meant all fires except cooking fires in urban areas needed a permit.
Permit requests can be lodged with your local fire authority or council.
The public is being asked to report any unattended or dangerous fires by calling 111 immediately.
The cause for the olive grove fire has not yet been determined and is still under investigation.