Firefighters have managed to contain a scrub fire in Waiwhare, Hastings. 

Crews from around the region were called to the scene of the fire off River Road at about 9.30pm last night.

Almost 12 hours after they were first called, the fire about 4ha-6ha in size was contained, with three helicopters and ground crews remaining on site. 

Hamish Smith, Group Manager Fire and Emergency Hawke’s Bay, says it is "looking good compared to last night". 

"We've got three helicopters mainly working on the fire that's in a deep gully and in the trees. And then we've got ground crews working on the other side of the sloping ground and amongst new young pine trees, putting the fire out in there."

Conditions overnight were challenging, Smith says, with tough terrain and strong wind. 

"We had a lot of firefighters out here, because it was quite windy and there were a lot of hot embers being transferred by the wind, and they were all blowing towards two-year-old pine trees in long grass. So a lot of effort went in during the dark hours to stop those hot embers igniting spot fires in front of the fire." 

Overnight, they were focused on keeping the fire as contained as they could until daylight arrived. 

"The gullies are just about vertical drops, so it's very hard. You can't walk down them, they're that steep. So that's why we're using the helicopters to flush out the burning material in the trees and on the edge of those gullies, to make sure that we've got everything. And then the land we can walk firefighters through that."

At this stage, they believe it will be out later this afternoon. 

"We'll have to check it tomorrow, but it'll be safe enough to be left overnight, hopefully by this afternoon." 

Smith says the fire was accidental and sparked from a burn pit that spread into standing forestry. 

"It was completely accidental and came out of a burn hole on a farm. The farmers here had a burn earlier in the week, and then did some clearing of their property, with some stuff that was damaged by the cyclone last year. They got around to clearing that and they added it to the burn pile late yesterday thinking that it would be all right. However, when the wind came up out here late yesterday afternoon and early evening, it stirred up the hot ashes, and the material that was put on top of the burn pile, it's got going again and then jumped out of the burn pit."

"They feel bad about it because they know to do all the right things and they thought they had, but on this occasion, it's caught them out. But they won't be the last ones I'm sure."

At this time, FENZ is asking that safe burning practices continue. These include:

• Having suitable means to contain and extinguish the fire (e.g. water hose, water sprayer, shovel and dirt to smother, mechanical digger etc.).
• Consider the wind conditions during the burn duration and at least 48 hours after. 
• Contain your fire to the burn location so that at no time it comes closer than 10 metres from any building, fence, hedge, shelterbelt, or any other combustible material.
• Construct a continuous fire break, clear of combustible material around the burn site.  This can be achieved by mowing long grass to near ground level and or removing any smaller fuels like branches and leaf litter.
• Monitoring and controlling burn until it is completely out to ensure it does not spread beyond the burn site.
• Wetting down the burn area after the burn has been completed. Be aware that piling dirt on top of the fire may not be sufficient to extinguish it completely and it may resurface some two weeks later during high winds, with embers setting surrounding shelter belts and buildings alight.  
• Do not burn in conditions that allow smoke to cross any road or state highway which may cause a hazard.
• Let your neighbours know when you are going to burn

 If the fire is going to burn overnight, multiple days or you think that people would be concerned seeing a column of smoke, call the Fire Communication Centre on 04 801 0812 and advise the call taker that you wish to advise of a burn taking place. 

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