Warning after spate of Wairarapa wildfires

File photo / APN

Fire investigators are hoping to prosecute some of the people responsible for an unusually large spate of wildfires in the Wairarapa over the last two months.

Wairarapa principal rural fire officer Phill Wishnowsky said there had been 49 wildfires in the five-week period to last week - a figure he said was "too many".

"It's an unusually high number of fires over that period compared to what we would normally expect," he said.

"I feel sorry for all the firefighters and all the associated support people that have to turn out and work very, very hard putting these fires out."

The most recent fire on January 15 forced several Mangatoetoe residents to evacuate their homes while more than 30 firefighters brought the blaze under control. One resident had to be hospitalised for exhaustion and smoke inhalation after trying to save their house from the blaze.

Mr Wishnowsky said the incident was among a handful that fire investigators were collecting evidence on in the hopes those responsible could be prosecuted.

Penalties for starting fires without a permit during the restricted fire season, which began in mid-December, could include fines of up to $1500 or two months' imprisonment. Those found responsible were also liable for the costs of putting out fires and any damage to property.

"People in that situation, they could be facing quite significant costs," Mr Wishnowsky said.

It was difficult to gauge the total cost of battling all 49 fires, but Mr Wishnowsky said several of the more extensive fires had cost between $30,000 to $50,000 each.

There had been a "wide range" of causes for the blazes, including people starting fires without a permit and months-old fires being re-ignited by gale-force winds in hot, dry conditions.

"Certainly some of them were caused by people lighting fires inappropriately in situations and under conditions where they should not have been lighting fires," he said.

Mr Wishnowsky urged people to use common sense during the restricted fire season.

"If people just stop, pause and think about what they're doing and the consequences of what they're doing, then people may exercise a little bit more caution and therefore reduce the significance of the fires we're having. Pretty much every fire is preventable one way or another," he said.

"Get a permit, because that gives experts an opportunity to have a look at what is intended in terms of the fire and provide some good free advice that should help avoid some of these issues."

- NZPA