6.45pm:  Fire and Emergency continues to respond to a vegetation fire in the area of Snodgrass Road near Te Puna, Bay of Plenty.

"Multiple shelterbelts are on fire, but the fire is currently contained to the area," a FENZ spokesperson said.

"At this time, the fire is estimated to have burned around 3.5km of shelterbelt.

"Ten properties have been evacuated and it is unknown whether they will be able to return home tonight."

FENZ currently have 16 appliances at the fire with multiple support vehicles and crews will be working to extinguish the fire overnight.

"A helicopter will be working on extinguishing the fire until twilight."

People are advised to avoid the area to allow Fire and Emergency crews to fight the fire.

"If anyone is impacted by smoke, please keep your windows and doors closed, and turn off any air conditioning units."

A Te Puna waterfront resident and SunLive reader who lives on The Esplanade noted that the wind had been gusting up.

MetService recorded moderate westerlies of 28km/h this afternoon with gusts up to 41km/h between 4pm and 6pm.

"The wind is pretty intense this afternoon. We can't see the smoke from here, but with the wind we've had, it would have whipped up fairly quickly," said the SunLive reader at the Te Puna waterfront.

A Mount Maunganui SunLive reader reported noticing the impact of the fire due to the westerly wind, within 30 minutes of it being reported to FENZ.

"I could smell the smoke and was getting covered in ash in our yard off Hewletts Road," said the SunLive reader, who first noticed the smoke and ash at 3.45 pm.

"I knew it must be a fairly big one [fire]."

Te Puna fire seen from Tauranga harbour. Photo/Claire Rogers.

Update, 4.46 pm: Evacuations are underway in Te Puna, and a number of properties are under threat from fire.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews were called around 3.20pm to reports of multiple shelterbelts on fire on Snodgrass Road near Te Puna. Seven crews are currently in attendance.

"Evacuations are underway with a number of properties under threat from fire," said a FENZ spokesperson.

"If smoke affects your home, please keep your windows and doors closed and turn off any air conditioning units."

People are advised to avoid the area to allow Fire and Emergency crews to fight the fire.

Fire crews from Omokoroa, Greerton, Katikati, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Waihi, Te Puke, Mayor View, and Papamoa are attending.

Police are assisting FENZ with the fire and advise the community to avoid the immediate area as emergency services respond.

Snodgrass Rd is blocked, and further road closures are being considered.

A caller to SunLive said smoke can be seen across the Te Puna area.

“I was coming up the hill towards the Minden Lookout, and there is a massive lot of smoke right across the Minden,” said a Sunlive reader.

“It must be a massive fire.”

View of the fire from near the Minden lookout. Photo/ Renee Adkins.

Earlier, 4.30pm:  Police are assisting Fire and Emergency New Zealand at a fire off Snodgrass Rd, Te Puna, Western Bay of Plenty.

"Crews were called around 3.20pm to reports of multiple shelterbelts on fire," said a Fire and Emergency spokesperson. Seven crews are currently in attendance.

Evacuations are underway with a number of properties under threat from fire.

Police advise the community to avoid the immediate area as emergency services respond.

"If your home is impacted by smoke, please keep your windows and doors closed, and turn off any air conditioning units," said the Fire and Emergency spokesperson.

Snodgrass Rd is blocked, and further road closures are being considered.

View of the Te Puna fire from Bellevue looking west. Photo/ Daniel Hancock.

A caller to SunLive said smoke can be seen across the Te Puna area.

“I was coming up the hill towards the Minden Lookout, and there is a massive lot of smoke right across the Minden,” said a SunLive reader.

“It must be a massive fire.”

At the scene?

Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz