In each of the past five months, a lower-than-average amount of rain has fallen in Wanganui and that's left the district tinder dry.
Last weekend, rural fire officers came across three campfires while they were patrolling Wanganui beaches.
Mr Rush said a campfire led to the scrub fire near Wanganui Airport, which engulfed 10ha of land adjacent to South Beach.
Permits to burn stubble this weekend have been granted to some grain growers in the area, albeit with stringent conditions. The crop areas must be divided into smaller-than-usual blocks with 8m-wide fire breaks, the stubble can be burnt only from late afternoon and a water-spray unit must be on hand.
Mr Rush said people should be aware such fires produce columns of smoke but ought to call 111 if they have any concerns.