KEY POINTS:
A blaze was still burning in the area of the Waipoua kauri forest late last night but the Fire Service says the iconic giant trees are not threatened.
Firefighters and the pilots of five helicopters pulled back to forest headquarters at dusk to assess the situation and plan today's operation.
Fire Service Auckland communications centre spokesman Steve Smith said it was not known precisely what area the fire was burning in but the kauri were not endangered.
He said the blaze covered 200ha and communications with firefighters were extremely difficult in an area with poor cellphone coverage. Radio contact was minimal.
Earlier yesterday, a Department of Conservation spokesman said there were serious concerns about the fire, which was burning in a pine plantation backing on to the Waipoua forest.
However, he made the point that there was "certainly no risk" yet to the giant Tane Mahuta kauri or other Waipoua Forest trees as the inferno was on the northern side of the River.
The blaze was reported shortly before noon and its cause was still unclear last night.
The fire is the second in two days in the Far North. Firefighters had earlier brought a blaze under control on the Karikari Peninsula after it burned through 40ha.
An arsonist is suspected of starting that fire on DoC land at Lake Ohia on Wednesday.
The principal rural fire officer for the Far North, Lance Johnston, said people could pay dearly for breaching the total fire ban - now in place from Awanui North to the peninsula - brought on by hot, dry winds and a lack of rain.
The ban includes all open fires but not gas barbecues or fires in controlled burners such as purpose-built incinerators with a flue and spark arresters.
Mr Johnston said the smart move was not to light any fires at all. "It could get expensive if they get caught."
The maximum penalty for breaching a fire ban was six months in jail or a $2000 fine.
- STAFF REPORTER, NZPA
