Evacuations are under way as firefighters battle a scrub fire in Whangārei this afternoon, with smoke visible above Waikaraka.

A number of homes near a large vegetation fire south of Whangārei are under threat and being evacuated, Fire and Emergency New Zealand announced shortly after 3pm today.

Ten trucks and five helicopters are on the scene of the vegetation fire on Whangarei Heads Rd between Onerahi and Tamaterau.

Fire crews were called about the fire at 2.15pm today.

Some Waikaraka residents are self-evacuating as the pungent smoke is thick and heavy. An estimated 10 properties appear to be in the valley where the fire is. However, a reporter at the scene said there was no sense of panic or distress yet.

One of the four helicopter monsoon buckets caught on fire while attempting to fight the blaze. The helicopter was forced to retreat and dump the bucket in the harbour.

Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo encouraged people to remain sensible as firefighters enter their fourth hour battling the blaze.

He said residents shouldn’t try to race home and push through the closed road. Instead, people should stay clear to allow firefighters to do their job.

Cocurullo was being kept informed about the fire as events continue to unfold.

Fire and Emergency NZ’s Northland District manager Wipari Henwood said they had received an unconfirmed report a house near the valley’s peak was on fire. A crew had been sent to the address.

Fears the blaze was headed for the HeadsUp Adventure Park on Whangārei Heads Rd have been alleviated as the owner said the fire was not close by.

The fire comes the same day Fire and Emergency NZ announced Northland would move to a restricted fire season because of the fire danger.

Henwood said very little to no rain was expected across the region for the next 10 days, along with continued strong southwesterly winds.

“Grass is drying out and forecast spike days, where fire risk rises sharply, increase the difficulty of controlling fires quickly once they’ve started,” he said.

“As we’ve seen with recent fires, it takes a large number of our fire brigades, many of them volunteers, with supporting resources and aircraft to contain and control wildfires in Northland.”

A large vegetation fire broke out on Whangarei Heads Rd between Onerahi and Tamaterau. Photo / Karina Cooper

Smoke seen in Waikaraka, Whangārei, after reports of a fire near Onerahi and Tamaterau on 9 January, 2025. Photo / Rachel Maher

Henwood said the blaze was on steep terrain and was burning on both sides of the valley.

A communication centre was being set up at district headquarters in Whangārei to help co-ordinate firefighting efforts.

Locals told the Herald firefighters were drawing water from residential streets' fire hydrants to battle the fire.

“There have been lots of sirens over the last 30 minutes and there are many residents standing on the street watching the smoke,” one witness said.

A large vegetation fire broke out on Whangarei Heads Rd between Onerahi and Tamaterau. Photo / Karina Cooper

Cars lined up on Whangārei Heads Rd. Photo / Karina Cooper

Residents in Onerahi, around 7km away from the fire in Waikaraka, reported a strong smell of smoke.

Some described seeing large plumes of smoke coming from the hills behind Whangārei Heads Rd.

Whangārei Heads Rd is closed from the Beach Rd intersection in Onerahi. Motorists are advised by the district council to travel via Mt Tiger Rd.

The fire is the second major blaze in the Whangārei Heads area in less than a week.

Three helicopters were called in to help firefighters extinguish a blaze in Patāua South on January 3.

People affected by smoke should close windows and doors and reduce outdoor exercise.

For health advice contact your GP or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.

Remember to:

• Keep your windows and doors shut.
• Switch your air conditioning to ‘recirculate’ or turn it off if that is not an option.
• Air out your house when the smoke clears.
• Look out for children, older people, and others at risk.
• Keep pets inside with clean water and food. Keep pets’ bedding inside if possible.

More to come...

- NZ Herald