Controlled burn-off spreads to pine plantation

Dozens of firefighters battled a pine plantation blaze over steep terrain in rural Auckland for most of yesterday.

The flames - on Bryan and Jessie McLeod's Higham Rd property in Helensville - spread from a controlled burn after a wind change.

Mr McLeod said the blaze jumped about 20m to the plantation. It severely singed the undergrowth but the 300 20-year-old trees escaped relatively unscathed. The pines had about 10 more years of growth before they are milled, Mr McLeod said.

The Fire Service was worried the flames would spread to the road, about 50m from the plantation, Mr McLeod said.

The fire, which started about 9.50am, took more than four hours to bring under control and firefighters were expected to be at the scene until late last night dampening hot spots.

More than 100,000 litres of water was used from two tankers, and monsoon buckets dropped from a helicopter from Matakana.

Fire appliances came from Shelly Beach, Helensville, Kumeu, Silverdale, Muriwai and Kaukapakapa. A command unit came from Auckland City.

Helensville chief fire officer Ian Osborne said the station had noticed an increase in scrub fires this month as people tried to clear their land before the restricted fire season. From December 1 to March 31, members of the public in the Rodney district must get a permit to light a fire on their property.