Large contained fire in Northland, main road closed



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Numerous helicopters and trucks tackle the fire in Rawene, Northland.

Anthony Wright / Supplied

Numerous helicopters and trucks tackle the fire in Rawene, Northland.

A fire that burned 10 hectares of brush for five hours in Northland has now been contained.

Fire crews were called in to address the fire that closed a section of the road in Rawene to the public Monday afternoon.

Around 3 p.m., there were reports of a grass fire in Rawene, which then spread to 4 hectares of pine trees, a Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman previously said.

Up to six helicopters and seven fire trucks had been working to contain the fire.

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Rawene Rd had been closed at the intersection with State Highway 12, the access route to the ferry, while helicopters were operating.

At around 8 p.m., Fire and Emergency NZ said the road was expected to reopen shortly.

The fire started as a grass fire and then spread to 4 hectares of pine trees.

Anthony Wright / Supplied

The fire started as a grass fire and then spread to 4 hectares of pine trees.

The fire was not near any residential areas and “there is no risk” to houses, a spokeswoman previously said.

Local Anthony Wright, who lives “2 kilometers directly in front of the fire,” was alerted to the incident when he noticed a “fairly large” amount of smoke around 3.20 pm.

“We could clearly see the flames peeking over the trees from time to time,” he said.

“Local fire trucks have been working from the roadside since he started keeping embers at bay and police have blocked the road at Rawene Rd Junction and in Rawene Township.”

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