Residents of a South Taranaki village have been on standby overnight to evacuate, as a vegetation fire rages nearby

Fire and Emergency were alerted to a fire near Waiinu Beach shortly after 2pm yesterday.

Ten units and two helicopters were deployed to fight the blaze, estimated to be a square kilometre in size.

The town has a population of around 100 with a mix of homes, baches and a popular campground.