A helicopter was called in as fire fighters battled to control a "substantial" fire in pine trees and scrub this afternoon.
Two trucks from Masterton Fire Station, a tanker and and a rural fire crew are still fighting the fire in a pine plantation in the Blairlogie district north-east of Masterton after they were called around 12.45pm.
The "substantial" fire had affected about half a hectare of the plantation, Masterton station officer Doug Flowerday said.
A drinking water-tanker driver who was passing by fought the blaze singlehandedly until fire fighters arrived.
A rural fire chief said it was lucky the blaze was controlled quickly, and warned the problem of arcing powerlines starting fires in plantations could worsen.
A helicopter was also called in but has since been stood down as the flames are under control.
- The Dominion Post
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