KEY POINTS:
A huge blaze in the Far North has prompted a warning for people not to light fires without a permit.
The Department of Conservation said the fire which burnt out more than 50 hectares of scrub near Te Hapua, a few kilometres south of Cape Reinga on Wednesday, may have been started by a camp fire.
Fire crews raced more than 90km from Kaitaia to join rural firefighters, helicopters, tankers and DOC workers to fight the blaze.
Two houses were evacuated during the height of the blaze which took several hours to bring it under control.
Firefighters spent the night on Wednesday and most of the day yesterday damping down hot spots to make sure the fire did not flare up again.
DOC spokesman in Kaitaia, Jon Maxwell, said the blaze was a reminder not to light fires without a permit during the dry season.
- NZPA
