Large fire on Waimarama roadside under control

Firefighters called to vegetation fire spanning about half a hectare on Waimarama Rd. Photo / File

Firefighters have now controlled a roadside vegetation fire near Waimarama.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said they received a report of the blaze on Waimarama Rd about 10.44am on Wednesday.

Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer Gordon Foster said the fire burnt for about an hour.

The blaze spanned an area of about half a hectare in size, according to a Fire and Emergency spokesman.

The fire was caused by a man burning blackberry without a permit Foster said.

The spokesman said a one urban fire truck, one water tanker and a rural fire truck were at the scene.

Principal Rural Fire Officer for Hawke's Bay Trevor Mitchell said the blaze had burnt along the roadside of Waimarama Rd.

"Everything is still very dry and we certainly didn't get the rain we were all hoping for," he said.

"But the fire is now under control and no longer spreading."