Fire at Fonterra site: all evacuated

LATEST: There was a fire this afternoon at Hawera's Fonterra site.

The small blaze in a boiler sparked a full-scale call out to the Whareroa site.

Hawera fire chief told infonews.co.nz "firefighters were working their way to the fire, which started in a cogeneration plant at about 1.40pm." 

''Firefighters are currently working to remove lagging and extinguish the fire. ''The department concerned has been evacuated.''

Five fire crews attended the scene from Hawera and also Manaia.

Infonews.co.nz spoke with a resident near the site and she said "I saw smoke but didn't think it was a fire"

The cause of the blaze which evacuated all staff on site is unknown but police are fire crews are investigating.

The fire in under control.