Firefighters spend 12 hours trying to control blaze

Firefighters spent 12 hours trying to get a 57 hectare scrub fire under control in Northland overnight.

The Fire Service was called to the scene at Ngawha Valley, about 7km northeast of Kaikohe, just after 7pm.

Communications centre shift manager Brent Dunn said three helicopters and several fire crews were needed to bring the blaze under control.

"It was a long night, a 12-hour job," Mr Dunn said. "It wasn't until about 7.30 this morning that we felt like it was under control."

The fire was on land owned by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Far North District Council.

DOC firefighters were left to mop up the scene today.

- NZPA