Taylor said despite the recent rain, the fire risk has not come down dramatically.
"People still need to be vigilant and make sure controls are in place. We are not going to issue fire permits to everybody because we're still waiting for the fire danger to come down a little bit more."
Taylor said permits would not be issued for fires with lots of scrubs around, where there was a risk of embers being transferred to other places, and for big piles of rubbish.
He said firefighters were still attending to callouts involving rubbish and scrub fires being lit by irresponsible Northlanders.
"The wind has died down which has been helpful but we want people to be mindful of the fact wind is a contributing factor in fires. Many people think the fire danger is eased in March and April but it's not.
"March and April can be quite busy for us because the underlying vegetation is still very dry," Taylor said.
Fire bosses are revisiting all 80 illegal fires lit across Northland since fire restrictions were imposed and Taylor said no decision on prosecution has been made as yet.
One of the biggest fires during the summer ripped through 65ha of scrub and pine forest off Giles Rd at Horeke while another fire in December covered up to 100ha at Pipiwai Rd, near Matawaia.
Potentially the most damaging blaze in terms of property broke out at 1.30am on Friday at Ahipara and forced the evacuation of half a dozen homes on Gumfields Rd.
The maximum penalty for breaching a fire ban is a fine of $300,000 or two years' jail.
