Scrub fire caused by spark

The major fire which threatened the Bay of Islands airport appears to have been started by a spark from work on power lines.

Firefighters are continuing to dampen down the 80 hectare blaze near Kerikeri.

Top Energy CEO Russell Shaw says a worker doing routine maintenance yesterday afternoon, unplugged a cap which sent a spark flying.

Mr Shaw says ordinarily the small fire in the scrub below may not have spread so quickly, but the situation was made worse by the current tinder-dry conditions in the Far North.

He says the lines are now fully repaired and operational, and an investigation into the incident is underway.

- NEWSTALK ZB