A fire is burning in native bush at Ngunguru this afternoon. Photo / Jennifer Butler
Firefighters crews are battling a blaze at the beachside settlement of Ngunguru in Northland.
The fire appears to have started near Kakariki Rd, according to residents.
Jennifer Butler said a helicopter arrived about 4.30pm and she had seen about five fire trucks heading out.
“I rang my husband because the siren went off and all I could hear was sirens after sirens.”
Her son spotted the fire after getting off the school bus, she said.
Another resident said the fire appeared to have started behind a Kakariki Rd house.
It was near a residential area but Butler wasn’t sure whether any structures had been affected.
The Advocate understands a daycare had to bring children inside due to the level of smoke.
It was nearing the end of the day so they didn’t need to send children home, a teacher said.
However, another teacher who lives near the fire said the level of smoke they could see was “horrendous”.
They weren’t aware of any structures on fire but said it would be concerning if the blaze made its way over the hill and closer to residential areas.
A Fire and Emergency shift manager said the blaze was a two-hectare grass and scrub fire.
“We have five fire trucks and three tankers on scene. There were two helicopters but they have now gone home,” he said.
“The fire is roughly 60 percent contained. There were some properties at risk but they have been protected.”
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.
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