Acting Northland community risk manager Michael Champtaloup emphasised the importance of applying for a permit to ensure community safety.
‘‘The recent rain across the district, coupled with cooler, damper conditions make it less likely that a fire will get out of control.
‘‘We’re allowing people to light fires with permits again, but — as always — we expect that they take care in how and where fires are lit, ensure fires are properly extinguished and all permit conditions are followed.‘’
Anyone unsure of the current fire season status and the requirement for a fire permit or if a total fire ban is in effect should go to checkitsalright.nz to see if they can light a fire. This tool enables you to check what fire season your area is in, and provides safety tips if you can light a fire, and access to apply for a fire permit if needed.
Northland is still under a drought notification, despite the recent rain, and there have been several fires in the Far North in recent weeks, including two in Waipoua Forest.