Auckland Rural Fire announced over the weekend that the fire season will officially change from restricted to open, meaning fire permits are no longer required for fires lit outdoors on private land within the rural fire area.
The open fire season applies across the entire Auckland region. However, all the populated Hauraki Gulf Islands (Great Barrier, Waiheke, Kawau, Rakino and Ponui Islands) will change to a restricted fire season. All the remaining conservation Hauraki Gulf Islands will remain in a prohibited fire season.
Principal Rural Fire Officer Bryan Cartelle commends Aucklanders for taking extra precautions during another hot, dry summer.
"Even though some restrictions have been lifted, fires should be managed responsibly during an open fire season. If you wish to light an open fire in a rural area, you should to locate it well away from trees, long grass and any structures, and keep fires at a manageable size."
During an open fire season, complying fires must:
• be used in a safe and considerate manner
• be of a size that burns out during daylight hours
• not be a land clearing fire
• have no green vegetation included
• have no rubber or plastic items or toxic materials included
• have no treated timber or building waste included.
