Five pumping appliances and three tankers were at the second Swamp Rd fire.
“Firefighting conditions are extremely difficult due to the high winds,” Dunbar said.
Fire and Emergency did not provide a size estimate for one of the Swamp Rd fires, while the other covered an area of about 700m by 8m.
Firefighters work to extinguish a vegetation fire in Central Hawke’s Bay as strong winds make conditions difficult. Photo / Fire and Emergency
Firefighters were kept busy as further vegetation fires were reported through the day.
A fire off Maharakeke Rd was being monitored by the landowner after Fire and Emergency crews left the scene.
Dunbar said crews were also dealing with two fires on Argyll Rd and another on White Rd Extension.
The White Rd Extension fire was out by 3.30pm.
Firefighters were heading to one of the Argyll Rd incidents and fighting the other about 3.45pm.
Dunbar said there may also have been other minor fires during the day that were no longer active.
No injuries or threats to properties had been reported at any of the incidents, he said.
Smoke was visible across Waipukurau and made its way into town centre businesses.
Central Hawke’s Bay Business Association head and De’s Cavern owner Denise Damiani said there was “quite a lot of smoke” along Ruataniwha St, with odour and haze noticeable.
“A lot of shops may not be airtight, so it’s all coming into the businesses,” she said.
Damiani said the strong winds appeared to be having greater impact on retailers than the smoke itself.
Woolworths Waipukurau closed at 11.30am after high winds damaged a large window.
A spokesperson said the window had been boarded up temporarily.
There were no injuries, and the store expected to reopen Monday afternoon.
In a social media post, Fire and Emergency urged people to check old burn piles and previous burn sites, particularly in exposed areas, as the strong winds continued.