Fire ban in Hawke's Bay cities likely

Searing temperatures and dehydrating westerlies are likely to force Napier and Hastings into a total fire ban tomorrow.

While light rain fell over much of the province this morning it was of little value following yesterday's scorcher in which the temperature reached 30 degrees in both Napier and Hastings.

The forecast for the remainder of the week was for more of the strong westerlies that buffeted the region yesterday with temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s.

There have already been three major fires in Hawke's Bay in the last month, the biggest of which burned 200ha of pine at Mohaka forest and cost more than $500,000 to put out.

A huge area of Te Mata Peak was burned last week and a large area of Patoka was destroyed the previous week.

Hastings District Council regulatory manager Kevin Deacon said the council could not put off imposing a total fire ban anymore.

"... with the forecast for the rest of the week it had reached a stage where the council would have to act," he said

No fire permits are being issued and it will review the fire risk again tomorrow.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY