"At the height of the fire there was a lot of work and it was a fast-burning fire but at this stage there's been a change in wind direction which has assisted us, moving the fire away from the houses, and the fire crews are making good progress. It is safe to say the fire is under control."
The blaze is thought to have started about 2am.
The cause is being investigated.
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Meanwhile, a large scrub fire in Northland has been contained by crews overnight.
The blaze at on Okahukura Rd, Tapora, west of Wellsford, had been contained with fire breaks to 70ha overnight, northern fire communications shift manager Jaron Phillips said.
Fresh firefighters were at the scene this morning.
Elsewhere, four scrub fires on the same street near Hamilton overnight are being treated as suspicious.
Emergency services were called to the first blaze that covered a 2ha area on Old Mountain Rd in Karamu, west of the city, at 4.30am.
Two further smaller fires in the same street followed soon after, Fire Service northern communications shift manager Jarron Philips said.
Fire investigator Peter Hallett said fire crews then discovered a fourth blaze on the road.
"We're investigating these, they appear to be deliberate and we'll be involving the New Zealand police in our investigation," he said.
Eight appliances worked to extinguish the blazes and some crews remain at the scene dampening down
Fire investigators are also at the scene.
