Burn-off smoke scare

Hawke's Bay Airport's air traffic control was one of several parties to report a large fire south of Hastings on Sunday morning. Photo / Supplied

Smoke from permitted farm burn-off was visible throughout Hawke's Bay on Sunday morning.

The Fire Service received several calls, including one from air traffic control at Hawke's Bay Airport, about the large plume south of Hastings.

Hastings Fire Service Senior Station Officer Mike Manning said fire vehicles responded to the 6ha blaze on Maraetotara Rd in Maraetotara, but were turned back.

He said with an El Nino weather pattern established it could be a busy fire season ahead.

"The experts are picking it could be a fire season in parallel with the 1997-1998 summer, which saw record number of responses by fire fighters," he said.

He said people should call 111 when reporting a fire - often they rang the fire station direct.

"People are right to react, but because we are so busy we are often not here.

"If there is anything they think warrants a response they should call 111."