UPDATED 6.09PM: Trains in and out of Tauranga were put on hold at lunchtime while firefighters extinguished a fire in the scrub beside Ngatai Road.

KiwiRail were asked to stop the trains for safety reasons while fire fighters had fire hoses across the tracks, says Northern Fire Communications shift manager shift manager Jaron Phillips.

Firefighters were called at 12.10pm to what was reported to be a ‘homeless shelter and surrounding gorse', says Jaron.

The cause is unknown.

Firefighters have since left the scene.

EARLIER:

Tauranga firefighters are dealing witn a scrub fire in Tauranga this afternoon.

A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline says firefighters have hoses stretched across the train track on Ngatai Road as they put out a scrub fire.

It's understood all trains have been stopped until firefighters are off the tracks.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

At the scene?

Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz