Firefighters responding to large Wanaka fire

Firefighters are responding to a large fire in Albert Town, Wānaka, where evacuations have begun.Fire and Emergency NZ said they were alerted to a vegetation fire in Albert Town at 7:28pm on Saturday, and were attacking it from "multiple points".Do you know more? Email iwitnesses@rnz with information or images"Eight pumping appliances are now at the incident, as well as additional support vehicles. The latest information shows that no houses are threatened".An RNZ staff member said there were fire trucks with flashing lights in various streets around the Lagoon Avenue area, just minutes from central Wānaka. And an area of vegetation on a hill was being sprayed and drenched with water just before 9pm.People have posted images online of flames rising above a residential street.Police said they are at the scene carrying out evacuations and controlling traffic. A cordon on the corner of Hunt-Lagoon-Sherwin had been lifted.Residents on street told RNZ they don't know of any houses destroyed.Saturday was a relatively warm day for winter, with steady and increasing north west winds, and rain had been minimal - if any - this week, the residents said.More to come...