Northland fire under control, no structures lost in Ngunguru blaze

The 2ha fire was spreading smoke around Ngunguru on Monday afternoon. Photo / Jordan Linton Photography

The blaze at a Northland beachside settlement is expected to be out by this afternoon.

Incident controller Denis Cooper said they expected the fire to be out by 5pm.

Around 25 firefighters, four helicopters and three water tankers worked throughout Monday afternoon to strengthen containment lines.

Cooper said 12 forestry personnel and a water tanker continued containment work today.

“We’ve been very lucky, we’ve had very little wind and we’ve been able to contain the fire very easily.”

A nearby Pa site and trees of cultural significance had to be protected with the help of Te Waiariki, Ngāti Korora, Ngāti Takapari Hapū Iwi Trust who gave support and site-specific knowledge.

Cooper said no damage to any sites of significance occurred.

The public was also helpful and gave crews the space to do their job, he said.

“It was quite scary for them, after the fires in California everyone thinks the worst,” he said.

The fire started at Kakariki Rd in a “bowl” shaped area which intensified the activity of the fire.

He said because there was a lot of grass burning it gave off a lot of smoke.

While the fire looked “spectacular”, the reality was quite different.

It had been relatively easy to control and at its height measured 2 ha, he said.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation.

However the blaze proved a timely reminder that permits were required during restricted fire season, he said.

“This fire is an example of how things can turn really quickly if a fire does get out of control.”

“Northland is still in a restricted fire season and even though we’ve had rain on the West Coast, it’s not enough to slow the season down.

Fire activities are still a risk.”

Resident Jennifer Butler said a helicopter arrived about 4.30pm and she had seen about five fire trucks heading out.

“I rang my husband because the siren went off and all I could hear was sirens after sirens.”

Her son spotted the fire after getting off the school bus, she said.

Another resident said the fire appeared to have started behind a Kakariki Rd house.

It was near a residential area but Butler wasn’t sure whether any structures had been affected.

The Advocate understands a daycare had to bring children inside due to the level of smoke.

It was nearing the end of the day so they didn’t need to send children home, a teacher said.

However, another teacher who lives near the fire said the level of smoke they could see was “horrendous”.

They weren’t aware of any structures on fire but felt concerned if the blaze made its way over the hill and closer to residential areas.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.