But that rule only applies to ride-on lawnmowers, not toilet seats.
That's the fire safety message being spread across Northland after a ride-on lawnmower ignited, destroying a shed and damaging an accommodation block.
Fire investigator Craig Bain said the alarmwas raised on Thursday when owners at a Tokatoka business noticed a shed was on fire about 6pm.
The mower had earlier been used to cut a yard area and was then parked in the shed at the site, 18km southeast of Dargaville. About 45 minutes later, the shed was engulfed in flames.
Volunteer fire crews from Dargaville and Ruawai were able to extinguish the blaze just as it made its way into the roof cavity of an adjoining accommodation block for kumara workers.
The shed contained items for the renovation of the block, as well as tools.
An inspection of the three-year-old mower revealed a badly charged ignition barrel, which had probably shorted out and started the fire.
