Bay of Plenty fire authorities are considering using helicopters to help manage the region's extremly high fire danger.
Pumicelands Rural Fire Authority zone manager Alan Pearce said fire permits remained suspended and the extremely high fire danger continued in the Western Bay of Plenty and Waikino districts, despite a brief relief from recent hot and dry weather conditions.
"Little rain has fallen for nearly a month and what we have had is insignificant. Local weather station readings confirm drought index figures and the expected rain over the coming weekend will not alleviate the fire danger sufficiently to allow resumption in burning," Mr Pearce said.
"The authority is considering daily aerial inspections of the zone to detect fire and deal with it when located."
Contractors and machinery operators undertaking hot works, such as welding or grinding, must ensure they can control and extinguish any fires that inadvertently occur as a result. It is recommended that hot work activity is supervised at all times, Mr Pearce said.