A water blaster which reportedly caught alight sparked a blaze that burned a house to the ground and ripped through 5ha south of Mamaranui, Northland.
Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Craig Dally said two helicopters were called in when the vegetation caught alight.
Nine fire crews from Dargaville, Rūāwai and Te Kōpuru were working on the ground on Sunday evening.
The fire was mostly out by about 8pm, with crews dampening down remaining hot spots, Dally said.