Fire risk soars to 'extreme'

Tauranga fire safety risk manager Bill Rackham (left) and Tauranga Moana Rural Fire Authority principal fire officer Alan Pearce are urging people to heed the fire danger warnings. Photo / Andrew Warner

The fire danger throughout the Western Bay and Tauranga City has reached "extreme" levels, prompting suspension of all new fire permits.

It has also heightened calls by fire chiefs for people to ensure they have working smoke alarms in their homes and other structures, particularly those surrounded by lots of vegetation.

Western Bay Moana Rural Authority principal rural fire officer Alan Pearce said drying vegetation across the district, coupled with hot summer winds, meant the fire danger risk was now too high to warrant issuing further permits.

A restricted fire season is in force in rural parts of the Western Bay of Plenty, meaning people need a council-issued permit before lighting a fire.

Mr Pearce said anyone with a current approved fire permit could still burn until the expiry date of their permit, but he urged people to check the permit conditions thoroughly.

"Don't light fires on slopes, or near vegetation such as shelterbelt hedges, and avoid lighting a fire in windy conditions. Burning should be conducted in the calm, early morning hours and completed as soon as possible. Ensure that the fire-ground is cleared of all rank and dry vegetation before starting a fire," he said.

While a total fire ban was not in place, it was a day by day situation, Mr Pearce said.

"If we don't get some measurable rain by week's end, we may need to move that way, as it is really dry out there, including hilly parts of the district where there are a number of lifestyle blocks."

Places such as the TECT All-Terrain Park were also vulnerable. The tops of hills were like dust bowls and, in some areas, the fire risk was being fuelled by 30-knot winds in the afternoon, he said.

There is a total fire ban in force in Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki district, including Waihi.

Tauranga fire safety risk manager Bill Rackham said he was getting three or four calls a day from people concerned about the risk to their properties that were next to lots of vegetation.

"It only needs someone driving past to discard a cigarette, or a fire getting out of control, and properties and people can be at risk."

Last year, local fire brigades attended 2225 call-outs, including 176 vegetation fires and 134 structure fires.

Miscellaneous fires, such as rubbish fires, were the main cause of call-outs last year, followed by vegetation fires and structure fires. Unattended cooking accounted for 21 of the 135 structure fires.

Mr Rackham said in many cases people did not have smoke alarms or had ones that were not working.

If a fire does get out of control, those responsible for lighting it are likely to be held liable for the costs of extinguishing it and damage.

By the numbers

*Fire service call-outs in
*Tauranga/Western BOP area
*Top 10 incident types 2014, 2013
*Miscellaneous fire 190, 303
*Vegetation fire 176, 203
*Special services calls 139, 129
*Structure fire 135, 138
*Natural disasters 123, 220
*Motor vehicle incidents 99, 88
*Electrical hazards 86, 75
*Rescues 70, 43
*Mobile property fire 63, 57
- NZ Fire Service