Waitakere Ranges blaze that threatened homes now out

Fire has destroyed a large patch of scrub on a steep bank near the Cornwallis monument in west Auckland overnight. Photo / Google maps

A fire that ripped through scrub on a steep bank near a west Auckland beach settlement is out.

Several homes at Cornwallis in the Waitakere Ranges were evacuated as the blaze raced out of control last night.

The fire broke out around 7.15pm on a bank near the community's monument and quickly spread to around 50m by 60m.

Police and firefighters went door-to-door keeping local residents aware of the situation.

Firefighters from west Auckland volunteer brigades battled the blaze for five hours before it was extinguished.

Fire and Emergency northern communications shift manager Scott Osmond said the last fire crew left the scene around 1am.

A rural fire officer would be returning this morning to check on the burnt slope.

He was unable to comment on what may have sparked the blaze.

Last night firefighters said the steep slope where the fire took hold was proving difficult to access.

At one point fire crews needed to protect homes under threat from encroaching flames.

A Coastguard vessel was also stationed nearby to help with evacuations.