Fire danger as drought fuels new risk

Lawrence Gullery
Hot, windy weather and a lack of rainfall across Hawke's Bay have pushed most of the region into an early restricted fire season.
Emergency management staff issued words of warning as high temperatures dried up most rural areas from the Heretaunga Plains to Central Hawke's Bay.
Central Hawke's Bay District Council's emergency management and bylaws officer Bruce Kittow was installing restricted fire season signs this morning.
"We usually get 850ml to 950ml of rain in Waipukurau and Waipawa but last year we only had 650ml and so far this year - with five weeks to go - we only have 450ml recorded," Mr Kittow said.
"Those figures are quite significant. There's no real moisture and we've had 28C in the last three or four days with very strong winds."
Mr Kittow said it was unlikely he would issue a permit for any fire which wasn't supervised and he wanted people to be careful.
"We had one fire that started from a road-side mower, that's an indication that things are very dry. A 100m section of road was burnt near Ongaonga," he said.
A restricted fire season was also declared in Hastings, Napier and Wairoa (except Nuhaka) this week. It will mean no person may light a fire in the open air, including incinerators and hangi, without a permit from the relevant council.
Gas barbecues are not affected by the restrictions.
Hastings District Council's deputy principal rural fire officer Paul Hawke said people should apply for a permit at least three working days before they want to light a fire.
"When people apply for a permit it means we know where and when their fire will take place, which helps avoid false alarms if neighbours call to report smoke," Mr Hawke said.
"It also gives us a chance to pass on safety or weather information if need be."
Mr Hawke said this year's restricted fire season has come a few weeks early compared to 2007.
He said anyone lighting a fire without a permit could face substantial fines and a large bill for fire fighting if the fire spreads out of control.
The MetService said Dannevirke would bear the brunt of the windy weather heading towards Hawke's Bay over the next couple of days. Strong winds over Central Hawke's Bay, Hastings, Napier and Wairoa were likely to lift by this afternoon but most areas in the Bay would experience gusty north-westerly winds.