KEY POINTS:
A plume of toxic smoke stretching 10km west from a large fire at a hazardous waste dump at Omaranui Rd landfill in Hastings forced residents from their homes last night.
The Fire Service said as many as 20 vehicles were attending the blaze.
David Meikle, Fire Communications Centre shift manager, said: "We've evacuated a large number of residents from the Swamp Rd area."
