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Firefighters are trying to control a fire on a hillside near multiple properties in Fernhill, near Hastings.

The fire, near State Highway 50 and the Ngaruroro River bridge, was reported to Fire and Emergency just before 1.30pm on Tuesday.

The fire could be seen burning on a hill above the Farmhouse Lodge in Fernhill.

A fire has broken out on a hillside in Fernhill, Hastings, Hawke's Bay. Photo / Rafaella Melo

A significant amount of smoke was drifting over the area and nearby Ōmahu.

Winds in the area are picking up, with a strong wind watch in place south of Hastings until 5pm on Tuesday.

A reporter on the scene said dozens of lodge residents had been evacuated as emergency services fought the fire.

A fire burns on the hillside above the Farmhouse Lodge, Fernhill. Photo / Rafaella Melo

At 2.30pm, the fire was not under control. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said a helicopter had been requested but it was too windy.

Five fire trucks, three tankers plus support vehicles were working to contain the fire at 2.30pm, which covered an area of about 400m by 200m.

“The fire is between the Fernhill township and the Ngaruroro River bridge on SH50. The township itself has not been affected.”

Farmhouse Lodge co-owner Novia Bliss said a tenant noticed black smoke on Tuesday afternoon and ran to alert her and her husband, Dawson.

Novia said Dawson went up the hill but couldn’t see what was happening, then headed downhill, where he saw from the road that a bus was on fire. They immediately called 111, she said.

Novia said the first fire truck arrived about 30 minutes after her call.

While they were arriving, she went door to door evacuating all the lodge’s residents, of which there are about 50 residents, she said.

Napier, Hastings and Taradale fire crews were in attendance.

Firefighters parked beside the Ngaruroro River bridge at Fernhill. Photo / Rafaella Melo

The fire comes just hours after a prohibited fire season commenced on the Tukituki West zone of Hawke’s Bay.

From 8am, the area joined Southern Hawke’s Bay Coast, Porangahau, Ahuriri-Heretaunga and Tukituki East zones in a prohibited fire season.

No fires are allowed in the open and all fire permits are suspended.

Hawke’s Bay’s Te Haroto zone has also moved to a restricted fire season until further notice, joining Wairoa Inland, Tararua West and Central zones already under a restricted fire season.

A restricted fire season means anyone who wants to light an open-air fire will need to obtain a permit, through www.checkitsalright.nz.

Fire and Emergency’s Hawke’s Bay district manager Tony Kelly said consistently high temperatures and windy conditions meant the fire risk was extremely high, especially between December 25 and 27.

“This means we’ll be seeing high temperatures, high winds, and no rainfall. This is a bad combination when it comes to fire danger.

“Last weekend, our crews worked incredibly hard to put out two vegetation fires in Te Haroto and Hastings. We want them to get a break this holiday season to relax and spend time with whānau.”