KEY POINTS:
A fire that was heading towards three houses at Piha Beach, west of Auckland, is now under control.
Witnesses say smoke was blanketing the beach as the fire raged through a vacant paddock towards three homes.
Homeowners were forced to evacuate, and scramble to get their belongings out.
The fire is now virtually out, and people are starting to take their things back inside.
It's believed the fire has started in the paddock, next to a holiday park, and was fuelled by tinder-dry vegetation and fanned by a strong easterly breeze.
- NEWSTALK ZB
