Seven crews of fire fighters are attending a bush fire near Pukehina.

"The fire is located in Schrieber Road in Pukehina, off Otamarakau Valley Road," says Fire Emergency NZ Shift Manager Craig Dally.

"It is covering an area of one-and-a-half hectares and is close to a pine plantation.

"We have seven crews there or on their way there, from Te Puke, Pukehina, Matata, Maketu Edgecumbe and one crew from Greerton.

"We needed more man power because of its proximity to the pine plantation. The fire is close to a house, but that's being protected."

Dally says there are three tankers at the scene, but no helicopters at this stage.

"That's for the rural fire chief to decide."

The location of the fire on a no-exit road, means that main route traffic is not being affected by smoke or visibility issues.

"The fire started with a car fire," says Dally. "We don't know how the car caught fire, but it set the vegetation on fire."

Schrieber Road, Pukehina. Image: Google.