Monsoon buckets for fire in rural Ohauiti

Fire on a rural property up Ohauiti Rd.

UPDATED 4.15pm: A helicopter is preparing to drop a number of monsoon buckets of water on a gorse fire in rural Ohauiti.

Fire fighters were called to the fire on Adrine Lane about 2.45pm and a water tanker was requested by Greerton fire service.

Rural fire officer Barry Lowe said the helicopter would do a couple of water drops on a flank of the fire.

The fire was in a patch of gorse and did not present any great danger but a nearby patch of pine trees were a concern, he said.

UPDATED 3.18pm: Fire fighters are on a rural Ohauiti property where large clouds of black smoke have been seen.

A neighbour of the Adrine Lane farm told a reporter at the scene he believed the farmer was burning off gorse.

Rural fire officer Barry Lowe said Greerton fire fighters were at the scene and had requested a water tanker.

A fire service spokesman said they had received a number of calls reporting the smoke.

EARLIER 2.49pm: Fire fighters are on their way to rural Welcome Bay where large clouds of black smoke have been seen.

A fire service spokesman said they had received a number of calls reporting the smoke but were still on their way to investigate.