Only a fool would light a fire at this time, Tararua District Council's principal fire officer Paddy Driver says.
But just before 2pm on Saturday the Dannevirke Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to a vegetation fire on Weber Rd which is thought to have been lit by children, Mr Drivertold the Dannevirke News. "It was a very small fire, but it's bloody crazy and pure stupidity to light a fire here at the moment," he said. "I'll be speaking to police about this."
A total fire ban across rural and urban Tararua has been in place since Monday, but Mr Driver said people were still lighting fires, claiming ignorance of the ban.
Mr Driver warns these fires are illegal and if they cause damage to someone else's property the person who lit the fire will be liable for the damage.
"You won't be covered by your insurance because you're acting illegally," he said.
