Fire ban looming as heat grips Bay

By Sandra Conchie
A fire ban is being seriously considered by Western Bay of Plenty District Council - and water restrictions have already been imposed in part of the district because of the sustained dry spell.
Fire chiefs are worried the dry weather presents a significant fire danger, while officials have also introduced water restrictions in the Eastern Supply Zone of the district, east of Te Matai Rd including Pongakawa, Pukehina, Maketu and Paengaroa, until further notice.
Murray Simpson, Principal Rural Fire Officer for Western Bay Moana Rural Fire District, said current fire hazard conditions and forecasts for continued fine weather meant a ban was likely.
"As we move into February, statistically our warmest and driest month, the outlook is for mainly fine weather and a fire permit ban is most likely."
Mr Simpson said below average rainfall for January and persistent gusty winds have caused large amounts of grass and other light vegetation to die off.
"This dead, or cured, vegetation has the propensity to dry out very quickly and poses major fire risks."
He said the Fire Weather Index, which is monitored daily and calculates a range of fuel conditions and the potential for ignition and fire spread, as well as the drought code, remains very high and is approaching the recommended level for open-air fires to be prohibited.
"All the indications are that the dry weather will continue and the fire danger levels will hover around very high to extreme for most of February.
"We are reminding people throughout the district that it will be an offence to light any fire in the open air during a fire ban and that any fires should be reported to the Fire Service immediately."
Ted Anderson, the council's utilities manager, said water restrictions in the urban residential areas of the Eastern Supply Zone of the Western Bay of Plenty district will remain in place until further notice.
"We are closely monitoring reservoir levels. If the dry weather spell continues and reservoir levels have not reached manageable levels to meet regular demand, we may have to extend the restrictions. Until then we are asking all consumers throughout the district to make every effort to conserve water."
Consumers are restricted to only using irrigation equipment in urban residential areas to odd and even days of the week - that means consumers with an odd or even number in their residential address are restricted to using irrigation equipment on the corresponding odd or even date in a given month.
The restrictions do not apply to the use of hoses for domestic cleaning purposes, for example washing down a car or boat.
Mr Anderson said as a result of higher demand placed on reticulation, some consumers in outer lying areas of the district and those on elevated properties could experience low water pressure.
"By imposing restrictions now and substantially reducing demand on existing capacity we are aiming to reduce the frequency of this type of incident occurring."
Consumers should call the council's Customer Care team on 571 8008 if they require further information.
Tauranga City Council spokesman Frank Begley said due to Tauranga City's water metering system, efficient water conservation by most consumers and water consumption remaining steady at 40,000cu m a day, his council was unlikely to impose water restrictions.