A police spokesman said the vehicle fire was reported at 1.15pm.
Photo: Marika Khabazi / RNZ

A man has been airlifted to hospital after suffering burns to much of his body in a car fire in the Far North on Thursday afternoon.

The man’s injuries were initially considered to be life-threatening but police later described his condition as moderate.

Firefighters were also battling a large scrub fire in the same area, on Diamond Road, south of Ōmāpere, which was thought to be connected to the car fire.

A police spokesman said the vehicle fire was reported at 1.15pm.

Police investigators would carry out a scene examination to determine the cause.

A Fire and Emergency spokesman said four fire trucks and one helicopter were working to extinguish the vegetation fire at Diamond Road.

Volunteer firefighters had responded from Ōmāpere, Rāwene, Kaikohe and Dargaville.

The blaze had spread through about half a hectare of scrub. No homes were threatened.

It was believed the man was flown to Middlemore Hospital in Auckland with burns to 80 percent of his body.

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