Update:
Police have confirmed a fire in Linton Park is being treated as suspicious.
The fire has now been fully extinguished, with fire crews leaving the scene about 6.40pm.
Senior Sergeant Denton Grimes said there was evidence the fire may be suspicious.
Police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact Rotorua police on (07) 348 0099.
Earlier:
About five fire trucks and 30 firefighters were needed to bring a scrub fire in Linton Park under control.
Assistant Area Commander Hamish Smith said this afternoon's fire involved two main patches of vegetation where the council had recently removed gum trees.
The smell of smoke was obvious from several blocks away with thick clouds of smoke in the area.
Nearby resident Kay Watt said she was sick of the fires in the park.
"It's just going to keep happening, the council needs to clean it all up and get rid of it," she said.
On October 31 firefighters spent more than three hours putting out a fire in a large stack of wood in the park. That blaze was treated as suspicious.
Council public relations manager Mary Anne Gill said the council had planned to clean the area up in the next few days.
"The team are conscious of the area and weren't going to be leaving it, there are plans in place to take care of it in the next few days, the last thing we want is for this to keep flaring up," she said.
A rural fire service training exercise was also held at the same spot last weekend.
Earlier:
Rotorua fire crews are responding to a "pretty large" fire in Linton Park.
Fire service northern communications shift manager Scott Osmond said there were about five trucks on the scene. The fire was not yet under control.
Mr Osmond said the fire was at the same place in Linton Park where the Rotorua Lakes Council had recently removed gum trees.
Central Lakes Area Commander Graham Fuller said they were "quite concerned" with the wind.
A reporter at the scene said the smell of smoke was obvious from several blocks away with thick clouds of smoke in the area.
A rural fire service training exercise was held at the same spot last weekend.
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