Residents near a forestry fire at Santoft Forest, north-west of Bulls, today have been evacuated as firefighters work to bring the blaze under control.
Three helicopters and fire crews from as far as Horowhenua are battling the fire, which started at about 9:30am on Santoft Rd near Knottingly Rd.
A large number of firefighters from the Rural Fire Authority and Fire Service are battling the flames aided by three helicopters with monsoon buckets, Fire Service spokesman David Meikle told NZ Newswire.
The fire was described by one witness on Twitter as a "bigun".
Meikle said this morning, there'd been no reports of any damage to properties or injuries at that stage.
It was still unclear how the fire started, he said.
Police have blocked Santoft Rd from Knottingly Rd at one end and Lake Alice Rd at the other.
Conditions are dry and a strong westerly wind is proving challenging for fire crews.
The Rangitīkei District has been under a total fire ban for the past week due to dry conditions.
Source: NZ Newswire, Wanganui Chronicle and Manawatū Standard
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