Firefighters battled scrub fire in Northland

Firefighters are battling a major scrub fire in Mangamuka, about 40km southeast of Kaitaia.

The alarm was raised just before 2.30pm by a passerby who spotted the blaze.

The Fire Service said that by late this afternoon the fire had spread up a hillside and over a ridge.

Firefighters were facing a westerly wind shift that fed the blaze, expanding it quickly to more than 100 hectares.

Fire crews from Kohukohu, Ahipara, Kaitaia and Okaihau brigades plus Department of Conservation and rural firefighters were in action.

A helicopter was called was called in to help with an aerial overview of the fire, and a second was on standby.

The weather was expected to remain dry with no rain forecast.

The Fire Service said no property was currently endangered.

- NZPA