Firefighters contain central North Island fires

Firefighters have contained a number of scrub fires near Raurimu in the central North Island.

Fire crews were called to a scrub fire, which developed into a number of spot fires in bush near the town, about 1.05pm.

At one stage more than 30 firefighters battled strong winds to contain the fires, a Fire Service spokesman said.

Firefighters had since contained the fires which briefly caused the main trunk railway line to be closed.

A Department of Conservation fire appliance and a tanker from the Ohakune fire service with their crews remained at the scene to dampen the blaze and check for hot spots, the spokesman said.

It was not known how the fires started.

- NZPA