One of four suspicious fires along a stretch of roadside west of Taupō on December 27 destroyed a large area of native bush in a farm gully.
The fire danger level in the Taupō district has risen to high in the wake of dry windy conditions.
Pumicelands rural fire manager Roger Nelson says fire permits are still being issued on a daily basis during week days, but they are currently only valid for a fortnight.
"Things are really starting to dry out and we still have a large population in town so people do need to take care."
He says rural firefighters have been called out a number of times since Christmas to Reids Farm reserve on Huka Falls Rd and is reminding campers that the reserve is a prohibited fire area.
"We've been out about there about three times since Christmas putting out camp fires."
A helicopter with monsoon bucket was called in to assist firefighters extinguish the blaze.
One of the other fires lit near a farm gateway destroyed a small patch of roadside grass and native plantings.
The other fires a short distance away were extinguished before causing any damage.
Around 16 firefighters including two fire crews from Taupō, a volunteer crew from Kinloch and rural firefighters turned out to bring the fires under control.
A farm irrigator was also used to help damp down hot spots at the scene of the largest fire.
Farm owner Patrick Hart said the potential for a much larger fire had been huge given the strong winds.
" Those responsible have to be idiots," he said.
The following day the Taupō Fire Service was called to a fire in scrub along Acacia Bay Rd after a rubbish fire spread out of control.
A helicopter was brought in to help control the blaze which was threatening the property owner's home.