Firefighters battled for two hours before they managed to contain a scrub fire that threatened houses near a school.
Fire appliances from Kaitaia and Pukenui rushed to Te Kao on the Aupouri Peninsula about 2.30pm yesterday after reports of a scrub fire spread over an area of 150m by 150m.
A helicopter was also dispatched, which used a monsoon bucket to dump water on the fire.
The flames were brought under control about 4.30pm but a forestry crew from Summit was expected to stay at the scene overnight.
Kaitaia fire brigade senior station officer, Ross Beddows, said Pukenui firefighters led by their chief Warren Bunn did a good job in stopping the blaze before it got to within 50m of the houses in its path. He said two acres of scrub and grass were burnt. Firefighters used water from a nearby stream.
