A brigade spokesman said a witness reported seeing a man get out of the vehicle and start walking towards Opua.
The second appliance arrived just as the first fire truck ran out of water. Extra water was then pumped from a nearby pond.
State Highway 11 was closed briefly while the fire was extinguished and the car, which was partly blocking one lane, was towed away. As of yesterday police had not located the driver.
Meanwhile, it is thought picnic tables were vandalised to provide fuel for the bonfire on Ti Beach at Waitangi.
Fire restrictions in place across Northland since last week mean every outdoor fire — with the exception of barbecues or cooking fires such as hangi — needs a permit.