Firefighters around Northland remain on high alert with a number of fires igniting in tinder dry conditions.
Teams today remained at a pine plantation south of Waipoua Forest after a suspiciously lit fire destroyed more than 20 hectares of trees. Two helicopters were initially called to the blaze that started about 9pm on Thursday.
Another fire burnt less than half a hectare of pines in the forest, estimated to be 3000 hectares in size.
A U-shaped fire break was placed around the bigger fire, extending from the entrance and exit points of the Katui Rd.
Kaipara Council officials said there was no risk to the Kauri Forest and iconic Tane Mahuta, which was more than 15km from the blaze.
Strong southerly winds caused concern and created volatile conditions for firefighters dealing with the fire.
Yesterday there were about 35 people fighting the fire, including those from the New Zealand Fire Service, Department of Conservation and rural fire parties from Paparoa, Donnellys, Omamari, Weka Weka, Dargaville and Te Kopuru.
Two helicopters, four tankers and two fire trucks were also used.
Waipoua settlement is about 2km from the source of the fire and a written evacuation plan is in place.
Teams will be dampening down hot spots today.
Yesterday strong winds forced crews to pull out of a fire burning in peat at Kaimaumau, 30km north of Kaitaia.
Principal rural fire officer Kevin Ihaka said the crews were taken out of the interior of the fire scene at 11am after trees started toppling over in 67km/h-strong wind gusts, after their roots had burned away in the peat.
Teams were on the flanks of the fire ensuring it was contained.
The suspicious fire has burned through 107 hectares of private, reserve and farmland.
It has made its way underground into peat and crews are expected to be there for weeks.
"The wind is really whipping things up," Mr Ihaka said.
"Luckily we haven't had anything spark up," he said.
A fire whipped through five hectares of dry dairy farm pasture at Sandhills Rd, west of Kaitaia yesterday about 1.30pm. Chief fire officer Colin Kitchen said the fire was fanned by wind and burned through fences, threatening a house at one stage.
The Kaitaia volunteer firefighters were earlier called to another scrub fire started on the roadside near Aupouri.
"It's still tinder dry up here," Mr Kitchen said.
While rain had fallen recently in Whangarei there had been none in the Far North.
See Advocate Weekend on page 13 for more on those battling the blaze at Kaimaumau.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Northern Advocate
'It's made them quite nice': Kerikeri resident bakes unique Anzac biscuits for local RSA
Kerikeri's Liz Rushworth is renowned for her Anzac biscuits - what makes them so special?