A Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said crews were alerted to a scrub fire off Adderley Tce about 3.13pm.
Three fire trucks from Ravensbourne and Dunedin stations attended the scene, she said.
Senior Station Officer Ross, who was at the scene, said a combination of wind and dry conditions had caused the incident.
"It was a controlled burn that got out of control."
SSO Ross believed it had taken about twenty minutes for his crew to put out the fire.
He estimated the fire was 5 by 7 metres in size.
"Smoke would have been visible from the city," he said.