A Police Media Centre staffer said officers helped firefighters evacuate three houses. The fire was located next to Tuakau Bridge-Port Waikato Rd. A staffer at the Port Waikato Wharf Store and Post Centre, who declined to be named, said the fire appeared to be under control by 3pm. “We couldn’t see [the fire] being put out but there’s no more smoke,” the woman said. “It was quite big, but it didn t take long for them to put it out.” Fire Service northern fire communications shift manager Craig Dally said the grass fire was put out by 3.10pm. Meanwhile, firefighters, assisted by two helicopters, put out a large scrub fire along Otonga Valley Road, east of Raglan, on Thursday afternoon.