Full fire ban looms for Rotorua if dry weather continues

If Rotorua receives no significant rainfall soon a total fire ban may be imposed. Photo: file

Rotorua and the surrounding region is currently at high fire risk and parts may be subject to a full fire ban soon if there is no significant rainfall.

Pumicelands is responsible for rural fire in the Central North Island.

Pumicelands principal rural fire officer Paul Wright said Tarawera, Galatea and Whakatane were all in very high fire danger.

"All of that area is our worst situation at the moment, pretty much the rest of the region is in high fire danger except for Taupo which is in moderate fire danger."

Wright said he hoped for significant rain soon and said a prolonged period without any would be worrisome.

"We've had some light rain over the last couple of nights but it's not even keeping up with the evaporation at the moment.

"The risk is climbing every day and it's pretty important to stress to everyone that we're in a restricted fire season and everyone must get a fire permit or apply for one if they wish to have any fires in the open.

"It's not a fire ban but if it keeps climbing like it is, it could be by Christmas."

It is considerably drier than last year.

"Last year on December 8, the whole of our region was in low fire danger, so yes, last year was a lot more comfortable than it is now," Wright said.

"There's always a risk of fires anywhere, people have to be vigilant. Fires don't start on their own usually, it's people that start fires."

Department of Conservation rangers are preparing for a hot dry summer and the extreme fire risk that comes with it.

Senior ranger Jo Mendonca said the forests around the Rotorua lakes were particularly vulnerable as more people were out and about boating, fishing, tramping and camping.

"The vegetation types around many of the Rotorua lakes are highly flammable, even when there has been some rain it dries out very quickly," Mendonca said.

Fires on public conservation land around the lakes are prohibited.

"The effect of fire on vegetation and wildlife can be catastrophic and potentially very costly," Mendonca said.

A MetService spokesman said there was no significant rain forecast for the next five days.

"It's going to stay reasonably warm to hot, and all that means is it's getting drier and drier and it's looking warm and dry for the next couple of weeks in the extended outlook."

The New Zealand Fire Service ceased to exist on June 30 and was replaced by a new organisation called Fire and Emergency NZ.

The rural fire and the urban fire services have merged to form that.

To get a permit go to https://fireandemergency.nz/ and type in "checkitsalright".