Fire officers were quick to put out flames on a Waikite Valley hillside as it threatened to spread to nearby houses.
Yesterday's scrub fire came as the Rotorua and Taupo District Councils announced they will stop issuing fire permits and will cancel any current fire permits until further notice as dry conditions have caused five vegetation fires in the last two weeks.
Deputy principal fire officer for the Rotorua District Council Richard Horn said they were alerted to the blaze on Hossack Rd about 2.50pm yesterday. The fire had spread about an acre on a hillside of private land.
Fire crews from the council, Lake Okareka Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Rotorua Fire Brigade took up to 25 minutes to put it out.
"At this stage it looks like it could have possibly started by a live wire which had long grass covered over it," Mr Horn said.