Northland firefighters are working to douse a vegetation fire burning through pampas grass,scrub and trees in Tutukaka.
At 2.30pm the fire was largely contained after four helicopters were brought in to douse the flames and prevent them spreading further.
Two appliances from the Ngunguru Volunteer Fire Brigade, with a third tanker on the way, and a Salt Air chopper were initially working to extinguish the 100m-by-50m blaze which started in Church Bay around 11.45am.
A witness described seeing large plumes of smoke and ash coming from a valley near Church Bay.