Strong winds are hampering efforts to contain timber fires in Coromandel.
Fifty firefighters are battling multiple blazes at the Carter Holt Harvey mill at Kopu, near Thames.
Crews faced a chilly night with potentially hazardous gusty southwesterlies.
Fire and Emergency shift manger Daniel Nicholson says the weather made a serious situation even more serious as multiple large fires burned through timber, recycled materials, large amounts of wood shavings and bark.
![A truck and trailer unit got caught up in the blaze last night. Photo/Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/IGX4OIVIMKDTIVOMDZVKXOY5EE.jpg?auth=b7c4a34452d9113f456e1384d08639b7de712abc2488dd8585d7f001baaecf6e&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)