Northland fire 'contained' after three days, but still burning

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

A helicopter pilot fighting a Northland scrub fire that has been burning for three days lays the blame for the blaze at the feet of New Year's Eve revellers.

The fire at Matai Bay threatened a nearby campsite when it first flared on the night of December 31 and pilot Grant Harnish said on Tuesday responsibility probably lay with 'stupid people lighting fireworks at this time of year, leaving others to mop up the mess'.

'There's nothing simpler than just not lighting fireworks when it's dry and windy.'

Harnish had been helping fight the 9.1 hectare fire on Karikari peninsula over the past few days, in his own chopper. He owns scenic flight operation Salt Air in the Bay of Islands.

​**READ MORE:

* Matai Bay fire's roadblock separates holiday makers

* Multiple Northland campgrounds and houses threatened by 'quickly moving' fire

* Second helicopter scrambled as Northland fire grows**

'We fight up to 40 fires a year - and this one's no different to the others,' he said, although he noted windy conditions had made fthe lames at Matai Bay linger longer than expected.

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'It's well under control now, though,' he said on Tuesday afternoon.

Northern fire service shift manager Megan Ruru confirmed that the fire in Matai Bay was 'still contained' at 5pm on Tuesday.

'There are crews there in the mop up phase, and some will stay overnight,' she said.

Structures in the area were no longer at risk.