Firefighting services were called to the Hawke's Bay settlement of Te Hauke early Saturday night after a rubbish fire burned out of control.
Central Fire Communications' shift manager Mike Wanoa said a significant amount of resources were drawn in to deal with the fire.
"There were several crews, we dragged in quite a few rural parties across Hawke's Bay. Hastings and Otane crews were there," he said.
A total of seven appliances from various Hawke's Bay brigades and a helicopter carrying a monsoon bucket were at the fire on Boundary Rd, Te Hauke.
"We have no idea it how big it was. It had the potential to get away on us so we had to pull a lot of resources in," he said.