Two properties in Whangārei Heads have been evacuated after a large fire broke out in a valley difficult to access.
A third home remains under threat from the 20ha blaze that broke out about 12.30pm today in a narrow gully with farmland on one side and heavy fuels - gorse, tea tree and old tōtara - on the other side.
Fire and Emergency NZ operations manager Denis Cooper said because of the “pretty heavy fire danger conditions” a large number of crew were called in, including five helicopters and 15 fire trucks.
Four of the helicopters have monsoon buckets while the fifth directs from the air.
Earlier today one of the four helicopter’s monsoon buckets caught on fire while attempting to fight the blaze.
The helicopter was forced to retreat and dump the bucket in the harbour.
How the fire started is not yet known, but a fire investigator will be on site tomorrow to determine the cause.
Families were expected to be allowed back into their homes tonight.
Cooper said the fire is not yet out, nor is it contained, but it is not moving very quickly now.
Firefighting efforts are expected to continue for the next three to five days given the difficult conditions, which included steep countryside.
At the height of the fire, eight to 10 properties were threatened but were protected thanks to the helicopters, Cooper said.
“Our aircraft operators are incredibly good in Northland. Their first task was to just let the fire run and protect the assets.”
Tonight, the fire crews are working around the one property still at risk, and will be finishing close to midnight.
The helicopters will work until dark and will be back at first light tomorrow, when specialised forestry firefighters will also start.
Fire crews were notified about the fire shortly after midday today.
The fire comes the same day Fire and Emergency NZ announced Northland would move to a restricted fire season tomorrow at 8am because of the fire danger.
The change means fires are only allowed by permit.
Henwood said very little to no rain was expected across the region for the next 10 days, along with continued strong southwesterly winds.
“Grass is drying out and forecast spike days, where fire risk rises sharply, increase the difficulty of controlling fires quickly once they’ve started,” he said.
“As we’ve seen with recent fires, it takes a large number of our fire brigades, many of them volunteers, with supporting resources and aircraft to contain and control wildfires in Northland.”
Some residents had questioned whether the fire restrictions had come too late.
Cooper said the need for a fire ban had been under debate for a number of days, but the threshold was only just met now.
A resident who watched the fire unfold on the hillside above her home said she had not seen such a large plume of smoke above the area in the 20-odd years she had lived there.
Residents in Onerahi, around 7km away from the fire in Waikaraka, reported a strong smell of smoke.
Some described seeing large plumes of smoke coming from the hills behind Whangārei Heads Rd.
Flights in and out of Whangārei Airport were diverted or cancelled.
Whangārei District Council closed Whangārei Heads Rd for several hours to clear the area for firefighters.
The fire is the second major blaze in the Whangārei Heads area in less than a week.
Three helicopters were called in to help firefighters extinguish a blaze in Patāua South on January 3.
People affected by smoke should close windows and doors and reduce outdoor exercise.
For health advice contact your GP or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
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