Up-close footage of the Ahipara scrub fire shows just what firefighters have had to tackle since it flared up last night.
Footage has been supplied to 1 NEWS from a firefighter at the blaze who recorded the fire from a safe distance to show how violent it was at the southern end of 90 Mile Beach last night.
“Some of the flames were 40 feet tall-plus,” David Ross, chief fire officer of the Ahipara Fire Brigade told 1 NEWS.
“An active fire front during the night was very, very powerful. We went up and checked the fireline at one stage and it was just amazing. Huge.
“When I walked the fireline, the spread of fire was quicker than I could run and I knew we were in trouble.”
The blaze broke out last night in the small town of Apihara, nestled in the southern end of 90 Mile Beach.
Up to 60 firefighters and several helicopters were brought in to contain the blaze as the flames ripped through 56 hectares of land.
A total fire ban has since been put in force for all of Northland and 100 homes were initially evacuated, although some residents have now been able to return.
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