Fire risk raised to 'very high'

SOARING: Temperatures are rising towards the 30C mark.PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Rotorua residents in rural and urban areas are being urged to take note of the dry conditions and high fire risk.

As temperatures rise towards the 30C mark, and with little or no rain in the past week, the region's fire risk has been increased to very high.

Rotorua Lakes Council deputy principal fire officer Richard Horn said the risk was creeping higher day by day.

"It's to be expected at this time of year, with these hot, dry weather conditions," he said.

"Given that there's not much rain expected in the coming weeks, we could see the fire risk get even higher so it's important residents are aware of this."

Mr Horn advised residents in urban or rural areas not to burn rubbish or start fires in these conditions as they could swiftly spread and get out of control.

Those living rurally had to apply for a council fire permit to burn, but were urged to hold off burning anything until the region had seen a decent dose of rain.

"For people who don't hold permits and start a fire which gets out of control, they could face covering the costs associated with the fire. It's also unnecessarily using up resources, fire crews especially, that could be used better elsewhere."

The conditions are the same in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Department of Conservation services ranger Pete Livingstone said fire had become the number one focus as the Eastern Bay of Plenty dried out.

"We've had hot days and not much rain and, combined with strong, warm winds, this is a recipe for a runaway blaze."

Mr Livingstone said an incinerator fire before Christmas sparked a serious blaze in the Kutarere area and local residents were lucky to be able to keep it in check without losing their house or having a large area of reserve torched.

DoC staff also attended another small fire in the same location this week.

Mr Livingstone said DoC would throw plenty of effort at controlling unpermitted fires within 1km of a conservation area. "That gets expensive with staff, fire equipment and even helicopters likely to be deployed.

"It costs DoC in both dollars and in lost staff time for our regular conservation work."

The MetService tips mainly fine days ahead for the Rotorua district, with a high of 26C to 27C tomorrow and Sunday. To inquire about rural-fire permits or ask questions about the fire risk, contact Rotorua Lakes Council on (07) 348 4199.