Fire risk rises as hot summer forecast

Hawke's Bay is already facing a significant summer fire risk, despite the heavy storm that brought as much as 500mm of rain to some parts of the region in just a few days last month.

Eastern region rural fire committee chairman Trevor Mitchell said the forecast was for the hottest Hawke's Bay summer since 1997-98, when more than 1000 hectares of grass and scrub land were burned in just two of the fires in the region.

By comparison, only 73ha were burned in the region last summer and Mr Mitchell says that reflects the difference in weather between the two summers, and the levels of care and alertness shown in averting possible disaster.

He was commenting after the large fires on the east coast of the South Island this week, boosted by dry ground conditions and high winds.

He said the fire season had already arrived, with spring equinoctial winds already drying up the land after the rain of September 20-24, which provided much-needed spring growth across farmlands of the region.

But rainfall in the fortnight since has been below 10mm in most areas, and is well below October averages, a return to the conditions seen over most of northern Hawke's Bay throughout the year.

Mahia has still had just 60 per cent of its average January-October rainfall, and Hawke's Bay Airport only 80 per cent. Little rain is likely before Wednesday, the area even missing light showers that had been forecast as a possibility for yesterday morning.

Mr Mitchell said there were some "simple rules" that might help prevent fires getting out of control.

"Check with the local fire authority to see if a fire permit is required and ask the rural fire officer for advice on how to burn safely," he said. "Check the weather forecast and do not light a fire if windy conditions are forecast, do not light a fire that can't be easily extinguished, do not leave a fire unattended, ensure fires are completely out and cold before they are left, wet-down ash, and check that insurance covers any mishaps.

"Many of our fires are caused by hot ash from fires burned hours, days and sometimes weeks and months before," he said. "The strong winds stir up the fire and ash is blown into hedges, shelter belts and piles of material, resulting in the loss of buildings and shelter."

Being careful included checking sites where piles of slash and orchard waste had been burned over the winter, to ensure they had no chance of reignition.

"Completely cold, even the ones that have been buried," he said.