Wanganui's fire risk increased from moderate to high over the weekend.
And a restricted fire season may soon be operating in the district if significant rain doesn't arrive soon.
"The fire danger is creeping up and we are constantly monitoring it," Wanganui emergency manager Matthew Smith said yesterday.
Wanganui has recorded just 0.2 millimetres of rain in 2015. Apart from 2.8mm on December 31, there has been no rainfall since December 20, when the city received 13.4mm.
Mr Smith said the fire season was open, meaning permits to light fires were not necessary. The exception to this was the drier coastal area where a permanent restricted fire season operated meaning a permit was needed to light a fire.