Firefighters had a successful night in their fight to contain a disastrous scrub fire on Mahia Peninsula, south of Gisborne.
Eight houses on YMCA Rd were destroyed in the blaze, which started on Sunday night and burned 140ha of forest and scrub.
Conservation Department (DOC) spokeswoman Jill Hudson told NZPA fire fighters had a good night last night working on hot spots and the fire was under control and contained.
However, there was still the potential for it to flare up again, and about eight fire crews remained at the scene, she said.
The National Incident Management Team - a team of rural firefighters from throughout New Zealand, handed over to East Coast fire crews today, Ms Hudson said.
Residents were given the all-clear to return to their homes yesterday.
But home was a mess for some.
One burned bach on YMCA Rd resembled nothing more than a fallen house of cards, with just the corrugated roofing left lying charred and blistered. It was surrounded by warped black tree trunks.
Fire-damaged buildings were being checked for asbestos dust and cockroaches had been a problem, Ms Hudson said.
