Rural firefighters will spend today damping down hot spots after a massive blaze raged over 50 hectares of scrub land in the Far North yesterday.
Firefighters from Kaitaia, 100km away, tankers, a digger and several helicopters fought for several hours to contain the blaze near Te
Hapua about 25km from Cape Reinga.
Firefighter Colin Kitchen said water was not a problem with a dam and the sea nearby and enough water in tankers. However, he said fire appliances which put salt water through their pumps needed a thorough flushing out to avoid corrosion damage.
"We are in the mop up stage today," firefighter Colin Kitchen said today.
"It began about 2.30pm in the afternoon and covered about 50 hectares and it was on a 400m front about 2km long.
"It burnt down to the harbour at Te Hapua. We had about a 20 knot wind which was fanning it a bit."
Helicopters worked until after dark last night dumping water on the fire.
"It was a big response,. We have two appliances from Kaitaia. We had a DOC (Department of Conservation) tanker, about six rural fire appliances, a bulldozer and a digger.
"We hit it pretty quick," Mr Kitchen said.
The fire began on a block of Muriwhenua Incorporation land on the corner of Te Hapua and Spirits Bay Rd.
Two houses were evacuated by DOC staff.
It was not known what caused the fire.
- NZPA
