A spate of dangerous fires in Northland has left fire bosses vowing to bill and prosecute anyone who sparks a blaze.
Crews in the far north have been working non-stop since Boxing Day, and fear lives will be lost if safety messages aren't followed.
Two helicopters and 45 firefighters were required to tackle a recent blaze in Makarau, North Auckland which forced the evacuation of five homes.
Deputy principal rural fire officer Brandon Guttery says they're "starting to stand people down because they are so tired".
"If there is a large fire in the next couple of days I'm going to struggle to get a viable attack force together, and that does worry me a lot."
A massive blaze sparked by New Year's Eve fireworks on the Karikari Peninsula cost almost $200,000 to extinguish.
Firefighters are promising to pass that bill on if they find out who's responsible.
"The gloves are off for us now - we've got to take action so people will be charged for the cost. Then if there's blatant stupidity we're going to be prosecuting people," Officer Guttery says.
Crews say a lack of common sense in the tinder-dry conditions is causing the fires.
A Taupo Bay resident nearly lost their home when they poured petrol on their weeds and set them on fire.
With dry weather forecast to continue in the far north, firefighters are pleading with locals to be smarter - or prepare to pay a hefty price.
Newshub.
