Whanganui fire crews are battling a vegetation fire near Fordell on Tuesday afternoon.
Fire and Emergency NZ was alerted to the fire on Denlair Rd just before 1.30pm.
Shift manager Murray Dunbar said the fire was a controlled burnoff that spread and lost control.
![Photo / Bevan Conley](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/MCXPIJLPHPGBAKVKGLYOWJE5J4.jpg?auth=a8c92c813d1227daa1cf2bf2b7f06f279ba38b86622b138ecc8d23db0e1d62ab&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)
The fire is about 300m x 700m.