Increased Fire risk prompts Fire Bans
Increased Fire risk prompts Fire Bans
A number of Rural Fire Authorities have imposed Prohibited fire seasons due to the increasing fire risk in some parts of the country. A Prohibited fire seasons is established under the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977, and means a total fire ban and the lighting of fires is not permitted in the open air. Areas where Prohibited fire seasons are in place are Canterbury, Marlborough, Otago and the Wairarapa. These are the areas of particular concern due to the extreme fire risk and where a number of fires have already occurred.
With the forecasted low probability of rain occuring within the next week the fire danger will increase prompting further fire bans in other areas with Restricted fire seasons. Restricted fire seasons means that a fire permit from the relevant rural fire authority is required to light a fire in the open air.
The public are asked to check the fire season status in their area and to take extreme care with using equipment such as grinders, welders and chainsaws in the open and also when mowing.
As resources are becoming
stretched within Canterbury due to the number of fires the
National Rural Fire Authority is co-ordinating support from
other Rural Fire Authorities in lower fire danger areas. A
number of crews from these areas have been placed standby in
case additional resources are required to be deployed to
Canterbury.
PROHIBITED SEASON
A period of time,
whether of fixed or indefinite duration, specified pursuant
to the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977, during which period
the lighting of fires in the open air is prohibited under
this Act.
Region Rural Fire
Authority Zone Comments
Auckland North Shore
City
Canterbury Ashburton District Council
From 6 Jan
Selwyn District Council From 5
Jan
Banks Peninsula District Council From 6
Jan
Christchurch City Council Rural area of
Christchurch City
Bottle Lake Rural Fire District
Bottle Lake
Chaneys Rural Fire District
Chaneys
Waimakariri District Council Restricted in
hill and high country
Hurunui District
Council
Ashley Rural Fire District All Forest
areas
Department of Conservation Canterbury
Conservancy
Ministry of Defence West Melton From 6
Jan
Ministry of Defence Burnham From 6 Jan
Ministry
of Defence Tekapo From 6 Jan
Eastern Wairoa District Council Prohibited Mahia Peninsula only
Nelson Marlborough Department of Conservation
Nelson Marlborough Conservancy Prohibited areas within
Marlborough DC area
Marlborough District
Council
Ministry of Defence Woodbourne
Otago Central Otago District
Council
Department of Conservation Otago
Conservancy All areas except Queenstown area of Queenstown
Lakes DC
Queenstown Lakes District Council Prohibited
Wanaka ward only
Waitaki District Council
Dunedin
City Council
Clutha District
Council
South Canterbury South Canterbury Rural Fire District
Southland Southern Rural Fire District Prohibited in Naseby Forest only
Wairarapa South Wairarapa District
Council From 5 Jan
Carterton District Council From 5
Jan
Masterton District Council From 5
Jan
Department of Conservation Wellington
Conservancy From 5th Jan 2004 for all of Wairarapa region
except Tararua Forest Park.