Tauranga fire fighters investigated a fire on Te Puna Road on Saturday morning but it turns out it was a controlled permitted fire.
Station officer Roger Pickett says rubbish was being burned on the orchard behind a hedge row and caused concern as all that could be seen was heavy smoke.


Smoke caused concern for residents on Te Puna Road on Saturday morning.

Roger says it is currently restricted fire season in the Western Bay of Plenty where rural dwellers have to get a fire permit from the rural fire officer to light fires on their property.
He says the orchardist was behaving within the guidelines of the permit.
A SunLive user says neighbours were concerned because there was quite a strong wind blowing when the fire was lit at about 10am, with ash blowing onto their properties.