Firefighters are urging people to store hot ashes in a metal bucket after a fence in Merivale burned down early this morning.

Greerton Fire Brigade was called to the fire on Merivale Road at around 5.30am to find the fence engulfed in flames.

A fence in Merivale was burned down after a fire was started by hot ashes being discarded nearby.

Greerton station officer Steve Wright says about 5-6m of fence was burning.

'The fire was started by someone carelessly discarding hot ashes,” he said.

'They had placed the ashes on the compost heap, which was next to the fence, and it ignited overnight.”

Steve advised people to store hot ashes in a metal bucket and away from buildings and fences.

He says ashes should be completely cooled down before discarding.