Five helicopters and multiple crews are working to extinguish a large vegetation fire near Tongariro National Park.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews were alerted about 1.10pm to the blaze, which was 110ha in size, the service said in its latest update.
Ten trucks and six support vehicles are in attendance, along with the helicopters.
Crews from National Park, Owhango, Whakapapa, Ruapehu Rural, Waimarino Rural, Tūrangi, Southern Lake Taupō Rural and Whanganui are in attendance.
The fire is on the eastern side of State Highway 47 near Tongariro National Park.
Police have advised the road between State Highway 48 and Mangatepopo Rd is closed. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
Colin Baker from Ruapehu Scenic Shuttles told NZME he received a video of the blaze and five minutes later the fire siren went off.
“Someone told me it was a third-alarm fire.”
Baker said it was “rapidly developing”.
He said he has received multiple phone calls about it and that the fire was reported to be in multiple locations.
More trucks are on the way, with a further two helicopters on standby if needed, Fire and Emergency said.
Karen Wickson, from Adrift Tongariro, said they learned about the fire in the past hour.
“We’re just heading around to do the detour to pick up our group, and hopefully the fires are put out fairly quickly.”
The company has a group of clients doing the Tongariro Crossing walk.
“Our group is safe. I have spoken with our guide.”
Wickson said when the group had 90 minutes left on their walk they could not see any sign of the fire.
Sam Bayly and his 16-year-old daughter Zuri were staying at Whakapapa Holiday Park, which was being evacuated.
He said the fire was near Whakapapa Rd and heading towards Tūrangi.
Sam said he saw “black, orange smoke” and a “massive cloud”.
“They’re [Department of Conservation] evacuating everybody, telling them to move because the wind has turned and it’s starting to come towards us at Whakapapa.”
Zuri was walking the Tama Lakes track at the time of the fire.
He had been in touch with his daughter and told her “she better get going”.
He said a ranger had been sent to evacuate everyone from the walking trails.
Zuri said the fire “kept getting bigger and bigger” while she was on her walk.
“I didn’t really think there would be a bushfire today.”
A DOC ranger was waiting at the end of the trail Zuri was walking and told her they were evacuating everyone.
“It all happened really quickly,” she said.
She and Sam were driving back as they spoke to NZME, and Zuri said the fire was “like 600 meters away from us” and “moving fast”.
“It’s crazy.”
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said SH47 between Waimarino and Tongariro was closed.
“Due to vegetation fires, the road is closed between SH46 and SH48.
“Follow the detour and allow extra time for travel.
“If travelling southbound, detour via SH1 and SH49. Reverse for northbound.”
The Department of Conservation said on its Facebook page it was aware a fire had been reported near where a November blaze took place in Tongariro National Park.
“We are currently working with Fire and Emergency NZ to get more information and will share details once we know more.”
A large vegetation fire burnt thousands of hectares in Tongariro National Park last month and triggered evacuations and closed highways.