Two helicopters are tacking a blaze in Northland that is expected to take several days to extinguish, Fire and Emergency New Zeaaland (FENZ) said.
The vegetation fire is in the gumfield region between Herekino and Ahipara, at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach.
There are two helicopters on scene, with FENZ saying more are on the way.
Dozers and other machinery are also being mobilised.
FENZ said it expects the fire will take “multiple days to extinguish, but we expect weather conditions will be stable”.
MetService shows the expected forecast for the region next week to have showers or rain on most days.
As the area is remote, there is no threat to structures or people.
FENZ have asked residents to stay away from the area as there is a great deal of smoke, and to allow crews to work.
History of bush fires
Residents of Ahipara are no strangers to bushfires, with the area needing emergency response on a near yearly basis.
In 2020, Northland principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor told the Northern Advocate that following three fires in three years, something had to be done.
“This is the third year in a row we’ve been here. This is the third year we’ve evacuated houses. This can’t keep happening. At some stage we won’t be able to get here in time and we are going to lose properties or even lives. The community needs to understand the risk they are in.”
The area was also in the media after an alleged “fire bug” had committed seven arson attacks in 2021, a abandoned crashed vehicle was set alight in 2022 and again after a scrub fire in February of this year.
