40 m tall flames: approximately 40 properties evacuated as fire continues to spread

Flames up to 40 meters high erupt from a huge forest fire burning near Ahipara in the far north tonight.

The fire makes its way through the bush in the Gumfields Historic Reserve and spreads to the east.

Police have evacuated around 40 properties on Reef View and Wharo Way and residents are encouraged to go to the local rugby club or the Roma Marae if they need help.

Fire and Emergency NZ said the fire was about 1 km by 1 km and was spreading.

Six helicopters and several fire crews were working to extinguish the slow fire.

Residents along Foreshore Rd, west of Ahipara, near Shipwreck Bay, are ordered to leave their homes.

Justin Edgecombe, a witness, says strong winds are fueling the fire.

“It’s a huge bush fire coming up the hill from behind [Ahipara]”he told the Herald.

“Where I was looking at it, it was very far away, but the flames seemed to be probably 30 or 40 meters in the air.”

Dave Clark has a section on Wharo Way, off of Foreshore Rd, and says firefighters make sure everyone leaves the area.

The fire burned towards the top of the hill behind them, but seems to be spreading towards the coast.

Clark says the fire is massive and is burning mostly through native bushes and that he has never seen anything like it before.

There hasn’t been much rain in the area lately and conditions are pretty dry, Clark said. Firefighters have told you to find another place to sleep tonight.

Clark says they are collecting water from the ocean and throwing it into the fire.

Edgecombe says police have arrived at the scene and are preventing people from driving to the fire.

A police spokeswoman says they were called around 6:10 p.m. but they were only there to control traffic in the area.