December 20, 2021
Kaimaumau evacuated as fire rages
Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis is optimistic a fire raging on conservation land at Kaimaumau on the base of the Aupouri Peninsula can be brought under control in the next few days.
Mr Davis was at Waiharara School this morning checking on people driven from their homes at Kaimaumau by smoke.
He says despite the upheaval everybody is keeping calm.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Northland district manager Wipari Henwood says the fire now covers about 2000 hectares.
Diggers were deployed this morning to widen an existing fire break, nine helicopters are creating a curtain over the northern end of the fire, and crews are clearing vegetation from around houses at Kaimaumau to reduce the fire risk.