We know man behind Far North blaze - fire chief

Firefighters battle the blaze in a paddock beside SH12.

Police and fire bosses say they know who started Sunday's Far North fire and how - but they're keeping mum until they decide what action to take against him.

The blaze, in scrub and pine forest between Ngawha and Kaikohe, forced the evacuation of at least a dozen homes and closed State Highway 12 for much of the day. Several houses were threatened but none damaged.

Four helicopters and firefighters from across the Mid North fought the blaze.

Northern principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor said police had found "significant evidence" identifying the person responsible for the fire and the means of ignition.

He would not reveal more until the fire authority had decided what form of enforcement action to take. The authority was "extremely grateful" for the diligence shown by police, he said. Meanwhile, yesterday's cloud, lower temperatures and little wind had worked in firefighters' favour.

A rural fire crew from Rawhiti stayed on Sunday night and was replaced by two forestry crews yesterday. One flare-up late on Sunday was quickly put out by a chopper which was still in the area.

Residents of the small settlement beside SH12 told the Northern Advocate of hearing a noise like a large skyrocket shortly before the fire started. One man said he had been accused of firing a flare into the scrub.