Car crash ignites bush at Opua on State Highway 11

Fire officers at the scene of a car crash which ignited bush near Opua early on Sunday. Photo / Supplied

Paihia firefighters called to a late-night crash had to stop flames from the burning wreck spreading into bush and threatening a nearby house.

The Paihia Fire Brigade was initially called out to a car upside-down in a ditch on State Highway 11 near Opua about 12.10am on Sunday.

They were on their way when they received a second call saying the car was on fire and the flames were spreading into the bush.

A police officer at the scene of the car crash. Photo / Supplied

With only limited water available — the brigade's other appliance had been sent to a beach fire in Waitangi — firefighters doused the car to reduce the blaze, then concentrated on the bush to protect a house on the hillside above.

A brigade spokesman said a witness reported seeing a man get out of the vehicle and start walking towards Opua.

The second appliance arrived just as the first fire truck ran out of water. Extra water was then pumped from a nearby pond.

State Highway 11 was closed briefly while the fire was extinguished and the car, which was partly blocking one lane, was towed away. As of yesterday police had not located the driver.

Meanwhile, it is thought picnic tables were vandalised to provide fuel for the bonfire on Ti Beach at Waitangi.

Fire restrictions in place across Northland since last week mean every outdoor fire — with the exception of barbecues or cooking fires such as hangi — needs a permit.