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.”
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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