Firefighters at the massive Kaimaumau blaze were confronted this afternoon by a repeat of the conditions which caused multiple flare-ups a day earlier as the remnants of Cyclone Cody continued to buffet Northland.
Three homes on the northern side of the 2530ha fire remain evacuated, with the occupants allowed home during the day to tend to animals but told to leave at night or any time conditions become critical.
Incident controller Peter Clark said Sunday's winds of more than 25km/h coupled with high temperatures and humidity that dropped into the low 40s had caused smouldering ash across the fire ground to ignite.
''Spot fires started popping up all over the place at the same time. However, we were prepared with a number of helicopters and crews on the ground.''
![A huge column of smoke could be see over the northern end of the Kaimaumau fire ground about 2pm on Monday. Photo / supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/ZEDP4YI5X7DMM7DWVUJ3C54HLU.jpg?auth=a4389c4eafdef1dd5571690d8bd41c090fd8c2332f55a160ec84aae98ccb5026&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)