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The massive scrub blaze forced the evacuation of Kerikeri Airport - Source: By Alyssa Penney -
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A spark caused by work on power lines is believed to have caused a major fire which threatened the Bay of Islands airport on Wednesday.
Firefighters are continuing to dampen down the 80 hectare blaze near Kerikeri.
Top Energy chief executive Russell Shaw says a cap a worker had unplugged during routine maintenance sent a spark flying.
Shaw says ordinarily the small fire in the scrub below may not have spread as quickly as it did but conditions are currently tinder-dry in the Far North.
He says the lines are now fully repaired and operational, and an investigation into the incident is under way.
Fire service shift manager Scott Osmond says the scene has been handed over to the Department of Conservation, which owns the land but fire crews will go back to the scene if there are flare-ups.
Residents and the Kerikeri Airport were evacuated on Wednesday as a precaution, as there were concerns the blaze could spread easily due to high winds.
All incoming flights were redirected because the smoke billowing across the runway made landing difficult and roads were closed.
