Fire at Spring Hill Prison

Firefighters have been called to a fire at Spring Hill Prison in the Waikato. Photo / Michael Craig

Firefighters have been called to a fire at Spring Hill Prison in the Waikato.

Northern fire communications have confirmed firefighters were called to the prison, on Hampton Downs north of Huntly, at 12.27pm today.

The firefighters at the scene hadn't called for back-up so the fire was expected to be under control.

It's understood the fire began in a saw dust silo.

Spring Hill is one of the country's biggest prisons with about 1100 beds and around 440 staff.

In 2013, inmates who were drunk on home brew caused $10 million worth of damage after beginning a riot which was the worst the country had seen in 15 years and resulted in multiple inmates being charged.