Firefighters defeat Raglan fire

A Raglan fire that sparked the callout of more than 10 appliances and about 50 firefighters has been extinguished.

Firefighters feared the fire which started about 4.30pm yesterday in toi toi and grass on an embankment above Ngarunui Beach near Raglan, 48km west of Hamilton, could spread in 30 knot winds.

Northern fire communications shift manager Steve Smith said access to the fire and getting water there proved difficult. Apart from a few hotspots the fire was under control by midnight. It had burned a front of about 100m.

- NZPA