Residents from the area surrounding a large bush fire near Nelson are being evacuated as the blaze continues.
Emergency services said at 6pm on Tuesday the fire had reached about 120 hectares in size.
Hot, dry conditions stoked the flames as strong winds blew the blaze further.
The fire was moving quickly, and multiple roads surrounding the fire have been closed, reports Stuff.
Photos supplied to Newshub show gigantic plumes of smoke above the area.
A large scrub fire has broken out in Wakefield, near Nelson.
A fire communications spokesperson said fire trucks were called to the incident on Pigeon Valley Road at 2.15pm.
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The fire crews were still in place at 4pm battling the flames.
The smoke is spreading across the other valleys.
Trucks from Wakefield, Brightwater, Nelson and Appleby are at the scene, alongside rural fire units and a command unit.
Three helicopters are also working to get the fire under control.
A fire and emergency spokesperson said no one has been evacuated yet but may be in the future.
The fire is believed to be at a forestry block.
More to come
Newshub.
