A vegetation fire in the Waiouru Military Training Area has burnt about 230 hectares and could take a further 24 hours to extinguish, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) says.
Fire and Emergency NZ was called to the fire on the Central Plateau at 10.15am on Monday, with crews from Waiouru, Tūrangi and Southern Lakes among those attending.
Thirteen NZDF personnel and nine Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) firefighters are battling the blaze, supported by five contracted helicopters.
The fire started on Sunday during live-fire training and was thought to have been controlled and extinguished before it reignited on Monday morning, the spokesperson said.
A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson earlier told 1News there were no concerns for anyone’s safety.
“Everyone is accounted for.”
Footage sent to 1News shows smoke billowing from the fire.
The Waiouru Military Training Area is near the southern end of the Desert Road, south-east of Tongariro National Park and Mt Ruapehu.
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