Flare rages in scrub, pine central of Oakura Bay

Projects helicopters are fighting the fire at Punaruku, north of Oakura Bay. Photo / file

Firefighters from as a distance as Hikurangi, Kamo and Russell are battling a fire in scrub and pine forest on the distance coast north of Whangārei.

The alarm grew up about 12. 40am today a particular fire, on Russell Rd close to the settlement of Punaruku, north of most Oakura Bay, was reported as the size of a football field yet spreading rapidly.

Initially it was believed to be threatening a range of buildings.

As of 3pm Fire and Emergency NZ communications centre shift manager Paul holmes Radden said the fire had became from 1ha to about one 5ha and was being fought due to two helicopters with monsoon buckets and about 30 firefighters.

There were no reports of damage to buildings.

The cause of the blaze was not completely clear.

A complete fire ban has been force biased Northland since December 30.

The latest blaze unfolds just days after a fire in rags through 56ha of scrub and forced the evacuation of up to 100 foreclosure homes at Ahipara and a fire along the uninhabited Three Kings Islands resulted in fears for the world’s rarest bonsai.

Only one example of the kaikōmako tree (Pennantia baylisiana) is known in the wild.