UPDATED 2.35PM: The grass fire near Windermere Polytech is now out.

Firefighters battled the blaze for half an hour to bring the blaze under control.

It started just after 1pm.

The fire service says it was a rubbish fire that spread to grass about the size of half a rugby field.

A spokesman says it seems not everyone knows there's a total fire ban in place at the moment.

'The only outdoor fire allowed are barbecues and hangi.”

UPDATED 1.48PM: A rubbish fire has spread to grass near the Windermere Polytech.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand says the fire has spread to around 80 metres of grass.

'A Fire truck is at the scene four firefighters are battling the blaze.”

It's not clear at this stage is the fire is threatening nearby buildings.

EARLIER

Reports are coming in of a large fire near Windermere.

A SunLive reader has emailed in to say there is a fire by the Windermere Polytech.

"A fire truck and few people running around.

"Big smoke can be seen from highway and Windermere campus side."

SunLive is working on getting more information and will update this story as soon as we have something more.

At the scene?

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