Large scrub fire billows smoke over Hibiscus Coast Highway, Auckland

Smoke from a scrub fire has blocked roads on the Hibiscus Coast Highway in Silverdale this afternoon. Photo / Carolyn Fenton

• Smoke from a large scrub fire that closed Hibiscus Coast Highway in the northern Auckland region has been extinguished.
• Firefighters are battling the blaze in Silverdale, with motorists warned to avoid the area.
• Five fire trucks, a water truck and volunteers are on the scene; no injuries have been reported.

A large scrub fire that closed a busy road in Hibiscus Coast in northern Auckland has been extinguished.

Earlier, Silverdale motorists were being warned to keep clear of the area as smoke billowed across the community.

A local medical centre closed its doors, citing the health risk for to patients.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said crews were called to the Hibiscus Coast Highway at 1.47pm.

He said the scrub fire was ripping through a 30m by 200m area of grass next to the busy route.

Photos show cars being engulfed by grey smoke from the fire.

Photos from the large fire show smoke covering the Hibiscus Coast Highway. Photo / Carolyn Fenton

Five fire trucks, one water truck and two support vehicles were on the scene, as well as volunteers helping with traffic control.

No injuries were reported and it was too early to tell what sparked the blaze.

The spokesman said firefighters left at 4.13pm and a fire investigator had attended.

A scrub fire closed a busy road in Silverdale, on the Hibiscus Coast. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Police said the road was closed and diversions were in place.

Silverdale Medical Centre said on social media that the fire was a “health risk” to patients and it had been forced to close.

- More to come.

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