Fire in the sky

Photo / Dean Purcell

A "furious" fire tore through more than 500ha of pine trees in Northland yesterday creating a giant plume of white smoke.

The fire started just before 2pm in Mosquito Valley in the Te Kopuru Kaipara District and quickly spread through the forest.

Northern communications shift manager Mau Barbara said four helicopters were called to try to control the fire but the wind was working against the firefighters.

He said the fire was likely to continue burning through the night, but no houses were in danger.