Firefighters battle blaze near Ahipara in Far North, homes evacuated

Firefighters are this afternoon battling a fire near Ahipara.

Far North firefighters are battling a large blaze that burnt more than 10 hectares of land near Ahipara.

The alarm was raised shortly after 12pm today after reports of a fire on Ngakuroa Rd which is off Roma Rd, just before Ahipara township.

There were several fires, although it was not known, at edition time, if there was one initial fire that then jumped to other spots or several fires.

Six crews of firefighters from Kaitaia, Ahipara, Houhora and Mangonui brigades were fighting the fires, with the help of three helicopters, a Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said.

They had three water tankers supplying water as there were not many water sources in the area to use.

The spokeswoman said a crew was working on a ridgeline to keep nearby homes safe.

Three houses nearby were evacuated, more as a precaution as at that stage the flames are not putting the houses in danger.

More firefighters from nearby brigades were on stand by if needed and late yesterday a fire control command centre was on its way from Whangārei to help coordinate the efforts.

Firefighters are about to use heavy machinery to help fight the fire and put in fire breaks.

Police also put a road block at the bottom of Ngakuroa Rd to prevent people from getting to the site to 'help out'.

A spokesman at the scene said people coming to help out could be more of a hinderance, and a potential danger, than a help.

The cause of the fire was still being investigated, the spokeswoman said.