Fire ban to remain over Easter

The New Zealand Fire Service, Napier City Council and Hastings District Council are asking for patience during the coming Easter holiday break, as a total fire ban remains in place over Napier and Hastings City and rural fire areas.

Paul Hawke, the Council’s Deputy Principal Rural Fire Officer, said that recent rain and cooler weather might tempt people to light fires for incinerators, rubbish or hangi over the long weekend, but urged them to respect the total fire ban.

“A total fire ban is a step we seldom take and we do it for very good reasons. I do appreciate that it can be an inconvenience, but the fire danger is still extreme and even a well-planned fire can be very unpredictable in these conditions.”

Mr Hawke said recent showers had only dampened dead vegetation that becomes an
extreme fire risk once the sun and wind evaporate ground moisture. New vegetation growth is required to help reduce the fire hazard.

“People lighting fires could face a $20,000 fine in addition to costs to extinguish the fire.”

Fire authorities will be reassessing the ban daily and will lift it as soon as it is safe to do so.

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