Shed ablaze in Paengaroa

10.25am

: A resident who lives near the orchard where fire fighters are battling a large blaze has described hearing massive explosion which rattled her house.

Fire fighters are still battling a fire on Bonny Dale Lane in Paengaroa which started in an iron-clad storage shed and spread to a nearby shelter belt.

Ashleah Smythe and her husband live in a small house near the orchard where the fire broke out.

She was alerted to the fire when she heard loud popping sounds followed by a massive explosion, the force of which caused her house to vibrate.

She rushed outside to see what was going on and saw smoke billowing into the air and fire fighters racing around.

She said she was relieved no one had been hurt in the fire.

A reporter at the scene said fire fighters were proceeding with caution because it was believed there was hi-cane, a kiwifruit spray, in the shed.

9.36am: A shed fire in Paengaroa has spread to a nearby shelter belt.

Fire Service northern communications shift manager Megan Ruru said there were already four fire trucks at the scene battling the fire and another six were on the way - that included three water tankers.

She said the initial call came in at 8.36am to a shed on fire on Bonny Dale Lane.

Fire fighters arrived to find a 1.8m tractor shed on fire which then spread to the shelter belt.

She said because there was likely to be chemicals in the shed the hazardous materials unit had also been dispatched.

She said the fire investigator was also on the way because it was not known how the fire started.

A reporter at the scene said smoke could be seen billowing from the address.

EARLIER: Emergency services are responding to reports of a shed fire in Paengaroa.

A shed is reported to be on fire on Bonny Dale Lane.

Police and fire fighters are responding.

More soon.