KEY POINTS:
Forestry workers have been evacuated and at least one power station was threatened after a scrub fire burning in Northland since Wednesday flared up again this afternoon.
The fire, which began on Wednesday night at Ngawha Valley, about 7km northeast of Kaikohe, appeared to have been brought under control yesterday.
However, the fire jumped Bannister Road into a Carter Holt Harvey forest about 3pm after flaring up again, said Fire Service spokesman Jaron Phillips.
Department of Conservation fire crews were managing attempts to regain control of the blaze using helicopters, backed up by the Fire Service.
"It's moving quite rapidly with the wind - it's out of control at the moment," Mr Phillips said.
There are several power stations in the area.
"At the moment, we're just trying to evacuate forestry workers from the area because they are in danger at the moment, and one of the power stations has already been shut down," Mr Phillips said.
Police have also closed roads to the public in the area.
The fire has already burnt through private land and Maori land, as well as the Ngawha Conservation Area, Ngawha Scenic Reserve and the Lake Waiparaheka Scientific Reserve, regarded as a unique place because of the geothermal flora and fauna.
- NZPA
