Helicopters save house from gorse fire in Far North

Two helicopters were used to put out a gorse fire in the Far North which came within 20 metres of a house inaccessible by road.

Fire crews were called to the large fire at the end of Waitapu Creek Rd, near Kaeo, just before 4pm on Saturday.

Northern Fire and Emergency shift manager Jaron Phillips said the 3ha fire was in a remote area inaccessible by road.

He said flames from the fire got within 20m of a house on the peninsula.

He said the two helicopters were still putting the fire out after 6pm. At 7pm, they began dampening down hotspots and were finished at the location around 8pm.

The house was saved.

Calls were received about the fire from motorists on State Highway 10, around 3km away.

Kaeo fire chief Lindsay Murray said fire crews could see smoke but as the fire and the house were inaccessible by road the fire engines were unable to help.

He said the track at the end of the road was suitable for motorbikes and quad bikes but certainly not for fire engines.

He said five engines, three of which were rural fire engines, could only watch the smoke from the corner of Waitapu Creek and Wainui Rds.

He understood the occupants of the house which was in danger accessed the property by boat. Mr Murray said at this stage it was unclear what had started the blaze.