Kai Iwi burn-off flares out of control | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Flames burned up gullies, crackling through hectares of tinder-dry grass and trees in an out-of-control burn-off on a farm south of Kai Iwi yesterday.

Wanganui rural fire officers joined forces to try to control the blaze, which had started as a small permitted controlled burn-off.

The fire blazed out of control from around 4pm yesterday.

At first fire crews weren't too worried, but then the fire spread quickly into gullies and roared up the hill.

A rural fire water tanker had to speed off and refill while rural fire officers went in armed with large rakes and spades to try and quell the spread of the fire by shovelling earth over hot spots.

Fire officers were planning to be there most of the night, keeping hot spots under surveillance.